Miqati in Contact with 'All Parties' on STL Clause

Prime Minister Najib Miqati is in contact with all parties in an attempt to find a solution that is “acceptable to all those concerned” regarding the clause in the government Policy Statement which deals with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, a source close to Miqati told Agence France Presse on Tuesday.

“PM Miqati’s stance is based on commitment to international legitimacy and he can’t make any step that might expose” Lebanon to the risks of defying international legitimacy, the source added.

Two regional Arabic-language dailies have reported the STL would issue its indictments, which are expected to remain confidential, within days. The tribunal has refused to comment on the reports.

Lebanon for months has been bracing for the Netherlands-based STL to issue its indictments in the Beirut bombing that killed ex-PM Rafik Hariri and 22 others, with Hizbullah repeatedly warning it would defend itself against any accusations.

"Our position against the tribunal is clear," said Hizbullah-appointed State Minister for Administrative Development Mohammed Fneish.

"As yet, there have been no talks as to how the government policy will deal with the tribunal," Fneish told AFP on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour told AFP on Tuesday that "the tribunal is one thing that many Lebanese, in government as well as the people, refuse to let go of."

"We will not pit Lebanon against the international community nor against international resolutions," he noted.