Amal MP: Hariri’s meeting with Saudi king will help in easing tension

Amal Movement MP Ali Hassan Khalil told NBN TV on Tuesday that Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s visit to New York and his meeting with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz will help in finalizing the settlement over the STL indictment which should result in easing the tension in Lebanon.

Hariri headed to New York on Sunday . NBN reported on Sunday that Hariri’s trip is aimed at meeting with Saudi King , who is trying to recuperate from the operation he recently had at a New York hospital

Khalil said that Iran supports the Syrian-Saudi initiative, adding that Syria is serious when it comes to Syrian-Saudi efforts.

Saudi and Syrian officials have reportedly been communicating in efforts to reach a compromise that would resolve tensions.

Tensions in Lebanon have been simmering for months as it has become increasingly apparent the United Nations Special Tribunal for Lebanon STL) is leaning toward charging Hezbollah , the Shiite Muslim group with killing Mr. Hariri on Valentine’s Day 2005.

The massive, 1,000 kilogram, car bomb that killed Mr. Hariri as he traveled along Beirut’s fashionable seaside Corniche, left a crater 10 meters deep, knocked down several buildings and killed 21 other people, in addition to killing the billionaire tycoon who had rebuilt war-shattered Beirut.

Lebanese politicians fear any indictment of Hezbollah members for the killing could lead to a situation where the group might militarily seize large parts of Lebanon, just it they did in May 2008, when it briefly grabbed control of the western part of Beirut and tried, but failed, to occupy the Druze stronghold of Mt. Lebanon.

For months now, rumors have hinted UN investigators have uncovered evidence a Hezbollah hit-squad carried out the killing.

Hezbollah’s leaders have denied the charge.

Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah also warned all Lebanese last November not to assist UN investigators, saying to do so would be tantamount to an attack on his movement.

Nasrallah vowed to “cut off the hand” of anyone who tried to arrest a Hezbollah fighter.