Friday, June 26, 2009

VICE-PRESIDENT OF UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON KILLINGS TAKES UP POST

New York, Jun 26 2009 5:10PM
Judge Ralph Jacques Riachy has taken up his post as Vice-President of the United Nations-backed tribunal set up to try the perpetrators of recent political killings in Lebanon, including the February 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

Judge Riachy, who was elected by his fellow judges at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, assumed his functions full time on 8 June, according to a news release issued in The Hague, where the Court is based.

He was one of the four Lebanese judges appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, upon the recommendation in December 2007 by the Selection Panel set up to interview Lebanese and international candidates for the positions of Tribunal judges.

The President of the Tribunal, which began its operations in early March, is Antonio Cassese of Italy.

The investigation of the murders of Mr. Hariri and 22 others in the 2005 bombing continues under the guidance of Prosecutor Bellemare, who also headed the probe while the case rested with the Beirut-based International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC). A trial will take place when he has sufficient evidence in place.


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