Legal Journals

U.N. Tribunal to Receive Hariri Murder Files

By jlee

On Wednesdsay, current Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora’s government agreed to hand over relevant case files to the U.N.’s Special Tribunal for Lebanon.  The tribunal convened last month to investigate the 2005 murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri. The tribunal may now request the transfer of the suspects–four Lebanese generals–to U.N. custody. Initial reports released by the U.N. point to the possible involvement of the Syrian intelligence service in the assassination, but Syria has repeatedly denied this. Leaders of Hezbollah, the opposition party and militia which is supported by the Syrian government, have expressed their reservations in complying with the tribunal’s request. Their lack of cooperation could halt U.N. efforts, because Hezbollah may control the government after June’s elections. The Hague is pressing the case despite the potential roadblock caused by the uncertain political climate. The tribunal is the first U.N. court to try suspects for specific terrorist acts. The murder of Hariri and 22 others in 2005 resulted in street protests which led to the end of Syria’s military occupation of Lebanon.

For further information, please click here.

Full post as published by Harvard International Law Journal Digest on April 15, 2009 (boomark / email).