Names of 4 men wanted for the killing of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri released by UN-backed tribunal, all linked to Hezbollah.
By REUTERS, JPOST.COM STAFFRafik Hariri billboards 311 R(photo credit: Ali Hashisho / Reuters)
The UN-backed Lebanon tribunal on Friday released the names of four men wanted for the killing in 2005 of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.Pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen ordered the lifting of confidentiality on the full names, aliases, biographical information, photographs and charges against the individuals named in the indictment, the tribunal said in a statement.RELATED:Sa'ad Hariri: Issuing of indictments a 'historic moment'US urges Lebanon to act on Hariri indictmentsThe four men named in the indictment are Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra, the tribunal said.The indictments were issued late last month but the identities of the accused were kept secret for a short period in order to allow the Lebanese government to investigate and arrest them.The names released on Friday matched those reported by Beirut’s Daily Star newspaper upon the original issuing of the indictments last month.All four of the suspects are linked to Hezbollah.Interpol issued “red notices” for the four suspects earlier this month. The notices, which are not international arrest warrants, are a request that the wanted person be arrested with a view to extradition. The four Lebanese men who were named in an STL indictment last week are wanted for trial in the Netherlands, where the STL sits.The Hezbollah-led Lebanese government has not made any arrests as a result of the indictments. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah has repeatedly said the UN-backed Lebanon tribunal is under the influence of Israel and the US."The Prosecutor submits that making the requested information available in public fora may increase the likelihood of apprehending the accused in the event that any of them are noticed by the public," the tribunal said in Friday's statement.
