Tourism Minister Fadi Abboud told the Voice of Lebanon (VOL) radio station on Tuesday that “there must be a will to try the witnesses who gave false testimony [to the international investigation of the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri], whether through the Justice Council or through regular judiciary bodies.”
“If the cabinet transfers [Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar’s] report on false witnesses to the Justice Council, it will [speed up] the process,” Abboud said.
“The cabinet should refer the issue to the parliament and the latter [will] decide if the matter should be transferred to the Justice Council or not,” Abboud added.
On August 18, the cabinet delegated Najjar to prepare a report on the false witnesses issue. Several March 8 figures have called for the issue to be referred to the Justice Council, while March 14 parties want the regular judicial bodies to deal with the issue.
Tension ran high in Lebanon after reports said that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will soon issue its indictment in the Rafik Hariri murder. There are fears that, should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May Events – when gunmen led by Hezbollah took over half of Beirut.
“If the cabinet transfers [Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar’s] report on false witnesses to the Justice Council, it will [speed up] the process,” Abboud said.
“The cabinet should refer the issue to the parliament and the latter [will] decide if the matter should be transferred to the Justice Council or not,” Abboud added.
On August 18, the cabinet delegated Najjar to prepare a report on the false witnesses issue. Several March 8 figures have called for the issue to be referred to the Justice Council, while March 14 parties want the regular judicial bodies to deal with the issue.
Tension ran high in Lebanon after reports said that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will soon issue its indictment in the Rafik Hariri murder. There are fears that, should the court indict Hezbollah members, it could lead to clashes similar to those of the 2008 May Events – when gunmen led by Hezbollah took over half of Beirut.
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