The Daily Star - Lebanese judges would have found truth if paid: Nicolas - February 17, 2011

BEIRUT: Metn MP Nabil Nicolas said Wednesday that if the government had paid judges in Lebanon, they would have been more effective than the ones in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. “If we paid our [Lebanese] judges and our inspectors, we would have uncovered the truth before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” Nicolas told a local television. Nicholas also said that the STL had failed due to leaks from the international investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In recent weeks, Al-Jadeed television has aired recordings of UN investigation teams with Lebanese politicians. Nicolas also slammed caretaker Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud, who he said had become “nothing” because of his affiliation with President Michel Sleiman. “Caretaker Interior Minister Ziyad Baroud is great guy as a friend, but he became nothing through his association with the president, which made him incapable of implementing any decision he takes,” said Nicholas in response to a question about wrangling over who will head the Interior Ministry in the next government. –The Daily Star