Lebanese Forces bloc MP Jospeh Maalouf told MTV Tuesday that there are efforts to avoid clashes regarding the false witnesses’ file, adding that some are attempting to reach solutions until the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) indictment is issued.
Tension is high in Lebanon after reports said that the STL would soon issue its indictment for 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.
“Everyone prefers not to [reach a point where] a vote on the issue of transferring the false witnesses file to the Justice Council [is cast],” Maalouf said.
March 8 politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses who gave false testimonies in the international investigation into Rafik Hariri’s assassination. Some March 14 figures have said that the issue does not fall within the council’s jurisdiction and that false testimonies cannot be investigated until the STL issues its indictment.
Maalouf also welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s statements about Prime Minister Saad Hariri, but added that the Syrian leader’s comments on the STL’s upcoming indictment are contradictory.
“There is direct Syrian interference in all Lebanese affairs,” he also said.
Assad told Al-Hayat newspaper in an interview published Tuesday that Hariri is the “suitable person [to serve as a premier] for this difficult stage.”
The Syrian president also said that people are talking about the STL’s indictment as though it is for a normal crime, but “when an indictment relates to a national crime in a country divided [into] sects, it will cause destruction for all and could destroy the country.”
-NOW Lebanon
Tension is high in Lebanon after reports said that the STL would soon issue its indictment for 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.
“Everyone prefers not to [reach a point where] a vote on the issue of transferring the false witnesses file to the Justice Council [is cast],” Maalouf said.
March 8 politicians have called for the cabinet to task the Justice Council with investigating the issue of witnesses who gave false testimonies in the international investigation into Rafik Hariri’s assassination. Some March 14 figures have said that the issue does not fall within the council’s jurisdiction and that false testimonies cannot be investigated until the STL issues its indictment.
Maalouf also welcomed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s statements about Prime Minister Saad Hariri, but added that the Syrian leader’s comments on the STL’s upcoming indictment are contradictory.
“There is direct Syrian interference in all Lebanese affairs,” he also said.
Assad told Al-Hayat newspaper in an interview published Tuesday that Hariri is the “suitable person [to serve as a premier] for this difficult stage.”
The Syrian president also said that people are talking about the STL’s indictment as though it is for a normal crime, but “when an indictment relates to a national crime in a country divided [into] sects, it will cause destruction for all and could destroy the country.”
-NOW Lebanon
No comments:
Post a Comment