Annan delegate in Beirut discusses internationalization of Hariri probe
Lebanon-UN, Politics, 1/28/2006

The UN chief delegate for legal affairs held talks in Beirut with senior Lebanese officials, on bringing persons accused in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri before an international court.

Lebanese sources said that Nicolas Michel, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, met on Friday with the Lebanese Persident Emil Lahoud, the prime minister Fouad Siniora and with the speaker of the Lebanese parliament Nabih Berri and the ministers of foreign affairs and justice.

Michel had a working session chaired by the Minister of Justice, Charles Rizk, which included the Prosecutor General and other senior members of the Lebanese judiciary.

Michel was reported saying that he "expressed his great appreciation for the positive and constructive atmosphere of all discussions... (and)was encouraged by the broad commitment demonstrated to move ahead in the coming days and weeks."

A statement by the presidency of the republic said that Lahoud expressed during the talks his hope that "a formula will be soon reached for the court which will assume the trial of persons accused in the crime, (a trial) that complies with the unique situation in Lebanon."

Michel's visit comes in the course of the authorization given by the UN Security Council in December 2005 on backing Lebanon in defining the nature and scale of the help requested by Beirut to form a court of international nature to try officials responsible for the assassination of Hariri.

Previous Stories:
  Tribunal of Hariri assassination to be set   (1/26/2006)
  UN Security Council calls Syria to help Lebanon spread its sovereignty   (1/24/2006)
  Lahoud meets UN Hariri murder investigators   (1/23/2006)

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