|
Beirut
tense after draft indictment in Hariri case
Tuesday January 18, 2011 07:28:10 PM,
DPA
|
|
Related Article |
|
'Hariri
indictment to be submitted in two days'
Lebanon's
caretaker labour minister said Sunday that top politicians had
been informed that an international tribunal examining the 2005
assassination of premier Rafik Hariri would submit an indictment
"in the coming 48 hours".
» |
Beirut/The Hague: Tension was mounting in Beirut Tuesday, with several streets and
schools shut and military checkpoints set up following the issuing
of a confidential draft indictment for the Rafik Hariri
assassination.
Supporters of the Shiite movement Hezbollah milled about the
streets of the Lebanese capital, where the former prime minister
was killed in a car bomb blast in February 2005.
A security source told the German Press Agency that dozens of
Hezbollah "militia" were gathered near schools, prompting concern
among parents.
"This was an attempt to cause panic among the Lebanese and close
schools," the source said.
Some lawmakers expressed concern that violent protests could
erupt. But Hezbollah lawmaker Ali Khreiss, speaking on Voice of
Lebanon radio, said "no decision to take street action" had been
taken.
Speculation that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) would
target members of Hezbollah in the indictment prompted its members
and their allies to withdraw from the cabinet last week, leading
to the collapse of the country's national unity government.
On Monday, STL Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare submitted the
long-awaited indictment to the pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen, who
must now confirm the charges before any arrest warrant or summons
can be issued.
In a statement issued by the court in The Hague Tuesday, Bellemare
said the indictment was "only a first step in our collective quest
to end impunity in Lebanon."
He said court rules prevented him from revealing "either the
charges or the name of the person or persons referred to in the
indictment" and stressed that its target should be "presumed
innocent" until the trial court ruled that they are guilty "beyond
a reasonable doubt."
"Any accused has the right to defend himself vigorously against
the allegations contained in an indictment. The Office of the
Defence has been created to assist the accused and their counsel
in ensuring that the best possible defence is offered," Bellemare
said.
|
|
Home |
Top of the Page |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Top
Stories |
|
Malegaon Blast:
Nine Muslim accused seek bail
Nine Muslim youths arrested in
connection with the 2006 Malegaon blasts January 17
»
No evidence against accused arrested in '06 Malegaon blasts case:
CBI
Was Malegaon
Blast really a handiwork of Muslims?
'Difficult to defend charges after
Aseemanand's confession'
|
|
|
|
Picture of the Day |
|
 |
|
Union
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mrs. Ambika Soni
signing on Calendar, at the Official Launch of the Dainik
Bhaskar- Junior Picasso, 2011 Desktop Calendar, in New Delhi
on January 14, 2011.
(Photo: V.
Rajan) |
|
|
|
|
Most
Read |
|
 Court
allows prayers at demolished mosque site
The Delhi
High Court Monday directed the Delhi Development Authority (DDA)
to allow
»
A Masjid
on illegal land? Impossible! |
|
Kashmir
interlocutors meet BJP leaders
For the first
time since they were appointed over three months ago, the three
interlocutors on Kashmir held a meeting with Bharatiya Janata
Party leaders here Monday. The party had announced its boycott of
the government-appointed interlocutors during their first visit of
the
» |
|
|
|
News Pick |
|
Swami,
Sangh and Terror Links
Investigating acts of terrorism have
multiple complex issues as things are mired in secrecy. To add to
the problem is the mindset of investigating authorities and those in
power. The acts of terror, which have been inflicted on the country,
have been mainly
» |
|
23
children to get National Bravery Awards
A 12-year-old girl who saved the lives
of two children in a quarry in Kerala and a 15-year-old boy who
rescued a 55-year-old man from a train accident in Madhya Pradesh
are among the 23 children who have been named for the
» |
|
Mother
of two enrols in class 1 with her kids
A
25-year-old woman in Pakistan enrolled in class 1 with her two
children - in fulfilment of her lifelong dream to be educated.
Asma, a resident of Daudkhel in Punjab province, enrolled in the
primary class with her two
» |
|
AMU centers at Murshidabad, Malappuram begin
admission process
The AMU
community is jubilant as its newly established centres moved one
more step forward today. The process of selection of candidates
for the MBA course was set in motion with the Interview
» |
|
 Violence, chaos continue in Tunisian capital
Violence and chaos continued Sunday in
the Tunisian capital Tunis, according to
»
Tunisia's head of parliament named interim president |
|
|
|
|
Comments
|
Quick links