UN court issues Hariri warrants

Rafik Hariri is widely credited with getting Lebanon back on its feet after the 15-year civil war

Four arrest warrants have been issued by the UN-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 murder of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, Lebanon’s state prosecutor said.

Mr Hariri’s son, Saad, welcomed the indictments and described them as a “historic moment” for Lebanon.

Local reports say the warrants name senior members of the Shia militant and political group Hezbollah.

Hezbollah has repeatedly denounced the tribunal and vowed to retaliate.

Divisions over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), based in the Hague, have thrown the country into political turmoil and sparked fears of sectarian unrest.

The Lebanese cabinet is meeting on Thursday to agree its policy towards the tribunal.

Rafik Hariri and 21 others were killed in February 2005 in central Beirut when a huge bomb went off as his motorcade passed by.

Hezbollah has criticised and attempted to discredit the tribunal, claiming it is a plot involving the United States, Israel and France. The group has denied any role in the assassination.

On Thursday, Lebanon’s state prosecutor Saeed Mirza confirmed that he had received the indictments and four arrest warrants from an STL delegation in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

Saad Hariri – himself a former prime minister – described the indictment as a milestone for the country.

“After many years of patience, of struggle… today, we witness a historic moment in Lebanese politics, justice and security,” he said in a statement quoted by the AFP news agency.

He urged Lebanon’s new Hezbollah-dominated government to to live up to its international obligations.

Hezbollah forced the collapse of Saad Hariri’s government in January after he refused to stop co-operating with the tribunal.

Later today, Lebanon’s incoming Prime Minister Najib Mikati is due to issue a policy statement which clarifies his government’s stance on the STL.

Mr Mikati has previously said that he would strive to uphold Lebanon’s international obligations, but that he was also mindful of his responsibilities when it comes to the country’s stability.

According to tribunal officials, Lebanon now has 30 days to serve out the arrest warrants.

If the suspects are not arrested within that period, the STL will then make public the indictment and summon the suspects to appear before the court, the experts told AFP.

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