Clinton praises tribunal for issuing Hariri indictments

US Secretary of State: Parties should continue to respect special tribunal; indictments reportedly detail motives, plan behind Hariri assassination.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Rafik Hariri billboards 311 R (photo credit: Ali Hashisho / Reuters)
Rafik Hariri billboards 311 R
(photo credit: Ali Hashisho / Reuters)
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Friday praised the UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) after it issued an indictment on Thursday over the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, an official statement said.
Clinton called the indictment an important step, and said "We understand that this is an emotional and significant period for all involved, and we call on all parties to promote calm and continue to respect the Special Tribunal as it carries out its duties in a professional and apolitical manner."
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Meanwhile, the International Criminal Court said the indictments contained detailed information on the motives and procedures behind the former prime minister's death, London-based Asharq Al-Awsat reported Friday.
The report said the indictments included information on the political motives that lead to the decision to kill Hariri, plans made for the assassination and how it was implemented, and steps that were taken to cover the traces left behind by the assassins.Commenting on the report, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati was quoted by Lebanese newspaper As-Safir as saying that he was convinced there would be no strife in Lebanon as a result of the indictments, and that the Lebanese government continues to function as usual.
"We do not want to create a state of panic and tension in the country as a result of a publication of an international decision over which we have no control," he was quoted as saying.
On Thursday, the long-awaited indictments were hailed as a “historic moment” by Hariri’s son, opposition leader Saad Hariri, who urged the Mikati's government to cooperate with the court in rounding up the suspects – all four of whom are linked to Hezbollah.
Lebanese Prosecutor-General Saeed Mirza did not disclose the contents of the indictments, but they are understood to accuse four Hezbollah members of involvement in the February 14, 2005, bombing in Beirut that killed Hariri and 22 others.