The UN “will undertake the steps and measures necessary” to establish the Special Tribunal
Beirut (AsiaNews) – The United Nations “will undertake the steps and measures necessary” to establish the Special Tribunal investigating the assassination of the former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri. There is a double intervention in the Lebanese crises contained in the statement released last night by the spokesman for secretary general Ban Ki-moon, Michele Montas, in the wake of the Security Council resolution enforcing the judicial body; Ban infect also confirmed that he planned to keep Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz as head of the U.N. commission investigating Hariri's murder until December 2007, which has been investigating all political assassinations which have taken place in Lebanon in recent years.
A new initiative launched by Saudi Arabia is also of note on an international level; King Abdullah is about to depart on a European tour, the main aim of which is to try to find a way out of the current Lebanese crises, which seems to be closing in on itself. Of particular importance is King Abdullah’s visit to France at the end of the month.
In Lebanon itself, there is also talk of a Holy See commission which could arrive in Beirut, while the new Directive Council of the Maronite League has asked to be received by the Pope.
In conclusion on the military front, a Lebanese army bombardment lasting over two hours marked a day of fresh clashes in Nahar al-Bared after yesterdays successful raid on the camp which resulted in the destruction of home of Shaker Abssi, the chief of Fatah al-Islam. The commando mission also resulted in the sequester of “documents”. Also yesterday two Red Cross workers were the latest victims of the militant snipers.
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