Now lebanon - US officials warned Mikati against not funding STL, As-Seyassah reports, October 2, 2011

Kuwaiti newspaper As-Seyassah reported on Sunday that Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Finance Minister Mohammad Safadi were warned during their meetings with US and international officials that Lebanon would face great dangers and political and economic implications if the government does not pay Lebanon’s share of the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).
The US officials also told Mikati and Safadi that Lebanon will face firm sanctions if it delays in the STL funding issue.
The UN-backed tribunal, which is probing the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, is funded by an assortment of donor countries from around the world as well as Lebanon.
However, Hezbollah and other March 8 parties and figures have spoken out against Lebanon’s ties and funding for the tribunal and called it a tool to incite sectarian strife in Lebanon.
Lebanon contributes 49 percent of the STL’s annual funding.
Mikati visited New York last week to chair UN Security Council sessions, while Safadi visited Washington to attend International Monetary Fund meetings.