Lebanese dissatisfaction with UN decision on Hariri probe

Reactions in Lebanon varied over the decision of the UN Security Council which extended the mission of the investigation committee into the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri for more six months and called on Syria to fully collaborate.

The Lebanese minister of justice Charles Rizq said on Friday that the decision issued by the UN Security Council on Thursday "is less than what is desired by certain people and less of what was feared by others."

In a press conference he held after his meeting with the UN representative in Lebanon, Geer Pederson, Rizq said "the calculations of countries do not take into account the calculations of smaller states." The Lebanese minister referred by this statement to the UN Security Council non response to his request for an international court and expansion of the investigation to include all attacks which hit Lebanon since one year.

The UN Security Council responded to the request of the Lebanese government to form "a court of an international nature" by asking the UN secretary general Kofi Annan "to help the Lebanese government to specify the nature and scale of the needed international aid." It also permitted the provision of technical aid by the international investigation committee to the Lebanese authorities in investigating attacks which took place in Lebanon since October 1. 2004, but without having an independent international investigation as requested by Lebanon.

Hizbullah said after the decision that it will evaluate its position concerning the resignation or resuming participation in the Lebanese government. The media official in the party Muhammad Afif considered on Friday that the new UN resolution leaves the issue of discussing the creation of an international court to the Lebanese, noting that his party will reconsider its position according to that.