Hizbullah ministers have informed several cabinet members that they were planning to propose a discussion on the controversial issue of false witnesses in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s assassination case during cabinet sessions.
Ministerial sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published Tuesday that Ministers Mohammed Fneish and Hussein al-Hajj Hassan are planning to open up the subject during government sessions.
Full StoryThe Pre-Trial Judge, Daniel Fransen, issued on Friday July 8 international arrest warrants against the accused in the February 14, 2005 attack in which former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and many others were killed, said the Special Tribunal for Lebanon press office in a statement.
The Tribunal has requested Interpol to notify all States of the arrest warrants following a request from STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, it added.
Full StoryMaronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi criticized on Monday the parties describing the international tribunal as politicized saying they should provide evidence of its politicization before making any accusations.
“We don’t accept a fake or politicized court,” al-Rahi told journalists at Bkirki. “But should we describe it as politicized just because we oppose it?” he wondered.
Full StoryThe second phase of the indictment in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon will include the names of a number of Lebanese officials close to Syria and other Syrian individuals, revealed British security sources to the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper.
These names include the four generals, former General Security chief Jamil Sayyed, former head of the presidential guard Mustafa Hamdan, former Internal Security Forces chief Ali Hajj, and former military intelligence chief Raymond Azar.
Full StoryThe Syrian turmoil and the international condemnation of the crackdown on protesters increased Hizbullah’s concerns over the halt of weapons flow from Iran, the German Der Spiegel weekly magazine reported.
Hizbullah is currently facing a financial crisis “which contradicts the Israeli allegations,” the magazine said.
Full StoryInterpol issued its highest-level international alerts against four Hizbullah men indicted in the 2005 slaying of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a Lebanese security official said Saturday.
The Interpol red notices were issued at the request of the Netherlands-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon, said the official, who requested anonymity in line with official regulations.
Full StoryPrime Minister Najib Miqati criticized on Thursday some of the statements issued by MPs during their discussions of the government policy statement at parliament during the past three days, saying that some of their remarks were unrealistic and illogical.
He said at the end of the discussions: “We welcome constructive criticism but some of the statements were irresponsible and violated my principles.”
Full StoryThe head of the Mustaqbal bloc former Premier Fouad Saniora voiced on Thursday his support for the rotation of power in Lebanon, saying that if the March 8 camp won the majority then it would have had the right to form a government.
He said during the parliament session to discuss the government policy statement: “It however assumed power through the use of weapons and we reject this and we refuse to succumb to it.”
Full StoryLoyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Hasan Fadlallah said Wednesday that for the first time in Lebanon a government was formed away from any foreign interference, adding that the cabinet formation disappointed Washington.
“The U.S. will not find partners to cover up any security agreements,” he said during the second day of policy statement discussions at the parliament.
Full StoryLoyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Ali Ammar stressed on Tuesday that the Americans and Israelis are Lebanon’s only enemies, reassuring the March 14 camp that they are not considered as enemies of the March 8 camp.
He said during the parliament session aimed at discussing the cabinet’s policy statement: “The American enemy created strife in Lebanon and the Arab world.”
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