An unnamed French source was quoted by As-Safir newspaper on Tuesday as saying that “France and the US are maintaining contact in order to enhance bilateral coordination regarding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).”
“US-French coordination intends to let Lebanon avoid any [negative] repercussion of STL’s indictment, in case it included the names of Hezbollah officials,” the source said.
It is in Lebanon’s best interest “that STL’s indictment does not ignite the situation and bring down [the country’s] cabinet when it is issued,” the source added.
Tension ran high in Lebanon after reports said that the STL will soon issue its indictment in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. 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.
“US-French coordination intends to let Lebanon avoid any [negative] repercussion of STL’s indictment, in case it included the names of Hezbollah officials,” the source said.
It is in Lebanon’s best interest “that STL’s indictment does not ignite the situation and bring down [the country’s] cabinet when it is issued,” the source added.
Tension ran high in Lebanon after reports said that the STL will soon issue its indictment in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment