Hariri: Opposition preventing tribunal to protect Syrian regime

Head of the Future Bloc in Parliament MP Saad Hariri emphasized the need to put on trial those suspected of assassinating Prime Minister Rafic al-Hariri and other political leaders in Lebanon.

He said the opposition is preventing the creation of an international tribunal, towards that end, to protect the Syrian regime which "survives through conflicts, assassinations and terrorism," and perceives a democratic and moderate Lebanon as a threat to its dictatorship.

In an interview with Italy's RAIUNO TV network, Hariri also said he met this week with Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema discuss the difficulties facing the court's creation.

In the interview, he did not expect a civil war in Lebanon, saying all political leaders reject it, but made clear that Syria is trying to sow discord among the Lebanese.

In response to a question about President Emile Lahoud's warning that the creation of an international tribunal will cause civil war, Hariri stressed that the head of state lacks credibility both in Lebanon and abroad. He also added, a majority of MPs have asked the United Nations to intervene in creating the tribunal despite Parliament's shut down.