Daily Star - Pressure mounts on Lebanon PM to fund Hariri case, October 27, 2011

By Khaled Soubeih

BEIRUT: A new political crisis looms in Lebanon as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Najib Mikati to deliver on his pledge to cooperate with a UN-backed court probing the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.
"On the one hand, Mikati is under massive pressure by the international community to fund the court," said Imad Salamey, political science professor at the Lebanese American University.
"On the other, if he stands up to Hezbollah and comes out in support of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), his political career is over."
The powerful militant group dominates Mikati's government and has waged a relentless campaign against the STL, which has charged four Hezbollah operatives in Hariri's 2005 assassination.
Hassan Nasrallah, head of the Syrian- and Iranian-backed Shiite group, on Monday reiterated his opposition to Lebanon paying its annual share to the Netherlands-based tribunal that for 2011 amounts to about $35 million (25.2 million euros) -- or 49 percent of the court's budget.
But the international community is clearly growing impatient with Mikati, with the United States this week bluntly warning of "serious consequences" should his government fail to pay up.
"We are probably headed for a tug-of-war over the financing of the tribunal, and hence for more political tensions," said Paul Salem, head of the Beirut-based Carnegie Middle East Center.
"Refusing to fund the tribunal will pit Lebanon against the international community and raise the risk of sanctions," Salem told AFP.
Lebanon in previous years has contributed its share to the STL, under the Western-backed government of then-premier Saad Hariri, son of the slain leader, and his predecessor.
In recent weeks, however, Mikati has received a series of notifications from the court on the overdue funds.
The Forbes-listed Sunni tycoon, who was ushered in as premier after Hezbollah toppled Saad Hariri's cabinet in a feud over the STL, has from the onset stated his commitment to international resolutions, including the tribunal.
But the opposition, led by Hariri, has slammed Mikati for failing to act, accusing him of being a Hezbollah puppet and buying time.
"That fact that Mikati is choosing to take as much time as possible with the financing ... may well be a means of hiding behind a bigger debate over the tribunal," said Mohamad Chatah, a senior advisor to Hariri.
Founded under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, the STL is the first international court with jurisdiction to try an act of terrorism.
The tribunal's mandate expires in March and it is widely expected that Hezbollah will demand the Lebanese government end all ties with the STL.
Experts warn such a scenario could alienate Lebanon from the international community.
"Should the Lebanese government decide to end its agreement with the court, the United Nations could consider the country as impeding justice," said attorney Mohamed Matar, an expert on the STL.
"In that case, the United Nations could take action against the government, ranging from a formal demand that Lebanon comply with the STL to the imposition of sanctions."
But some experts say Hezbollah will try to wriggle its way out of the gathering storm, especially as its ally, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, battles an unprecedented revolt threatening to topple his regime.
"It is in Hezbollah's interests to ensure this regionally- and internationally-accepted government does not collapse, especially as it knows that none of the party's (indicted) members will ever be arrested," said Salem.
"But if the government fails to find a solution, then Mikati could end up resigning."
Salamey added that working in Mikati's favour, at least for now, is the need of Western countries for stability in Lebanon.
"Mikati is probably counting on international pressure waning as crises in other countries emerge, especially Syria," the university professor said.

(The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)

Daily Star - Assad tells Nasrallah Syria not opposed to STL funding: report, October 27, 2011

BEIRUT: Syrian President Bashar Assad has reportedly told Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hasan Nasrallah during a recent meeting that Syria is not opposed to funding for a U.N.-backed tribunal probing the assassination of statesman Rafik Hariri.
A report carried by Al-Akhbar newspaper Thursday said Assad met Nasrallah in Damascus less than 10 days ago and the two sides discussed regional issues, including the position of the Hezbollah-led March 8 coalition over funding the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
“The two men, however, had a different approach to the STL funding issue,” Al-Akhbar wrote.
It said Assad told Nasrallah he did not object to STL funding and expressed concerns over the continuity of the government and the need not to destabilize it, and to prioritize the protection of the resistance in the face of global challenges.
Nasrallah, however, restated his rejection of the funding, telling Assad it was a matter of principle for the resistance.
Assad’s remarks over the funding were not new, Al-Akhbar said.
According to the newspaper, the leader made similar remarks during an Oct. 8 meeting in Damascus, when he told a senior visiting Lebanese official that he supports STL funding.
Assad at the time hinted that he was going to try to make Hezbollah change its mind and support the funding.
“But Nasrallah’s visit to Damascus reflected Hezbollah’s deep-rooted commitment toward objection to finance the STL,” Al-Akhbar said
The paper quoted Assad as telling Nasrallah in the latest visit that he would not delve into the STL issue any further, saying it was an internal Lebanese affair and that he would leave it up to Hezbollah and its allies to “take the appropriate decision that is in the best interest of the resistance.”
When contacted by The Daily Star, Hezbollah’s press office would neither confirm nor deny the report.

Daily Star - Fayez Karam rushed to military hospital, October 27, 2011

BEIRUT: Retired Brig. Gen. Fayez Karam, who was sentenced to two years of hard labor for collaborating with Israel, was rushed to the military hospital Thursday with health complications.
There are currently no further details of the reason behind his hospitalization.
On Sept. 4, Karam was sentenced to two years of hard labor after being convicted of collaborating with Israel by providing the intelligence agency Mossad with information about the Free Patriotic Movement, its ally Hezbollah, and the meetings held between the two sides, as well as information about other Lebanese parties in return for money.
Karam, who was charged in August 2010, had his sentence reduced from three to two years hard labor by the presiding military judge. Having already served more than a year behind bars, he was left to serve the remaining 11 months.
Karam returned to Beirut in 2005, accompanying Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

Daily Star - Police arrest suspects in robberies, body found in Baalbek, October 27, 2011

BEIRUT: A suspect in an armed robbery was apprehended Wednesday in the area of Maameltein, two hours after allegedly committing the crime, the National News Agency reported.
Jounieh police arrested the man on charges of committing armed robbery according to a statement issued by the Directorate General of Internal Security Forces.
A woman filed a complaint at the Jounieh Police Station early Wednesday morning which said two men robbed her food store at gunpoint in Maameltein, stealing money and prepaid phone cards. The suspects later fled in a black BMW.
About two hours later, police were able to locate the car in Maameltein and arrest its driver after he attempted to escape. The car, which was not registered, contained a pistol that the police confiscated. The victim positively identified the suspect and police are searching for the second suspect.
Separately, a body was found in Baalbek and police arrested several people on charges of theft and armed robbery across the country.
An unidentified body was found outside the village of Taybeh in Baalbek Wednesday. The scarred and tattooed body is believed to be that of a former prison inmate.
According to the forensic expert who examined the body, the cause of death was a drug overdose. Police are are continuing their investigation.
Meanwhile in Sidon, police arrested three men Tuesday suspected of having carried out armed robberies and confiscated a car.
Following up on several complaints, police confiscated a 2003 E320 Mercedes.
Investigations revealed that the car had been previously used to commit thefts in of Mount Lebanon and South Lebanon.