Ahmad Hariri , Secretary General of Future Movement ( which is headed by Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri) said on Wednesday that those claiming to care about achieving justice behind the 2005 assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri should cooperate to uncover the truth behind the murder.
“It is our right to know the truth, ” Hariri said during a tour in South Lebanon, according to National News Agency .
“They say that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will incite strife in the country, but we say that the court will bring justice.” He said
He also stressed that there will be no compromise made at the expense of the STL.
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.
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