UN-BACKED TRIBUNAL FOR LEBANON KILLINGS SWEARS IN OFFICIALS, ADOPTS RULES

New York, Mar 25 2009 3:10PM
The United Nations-backed tribunal to try the perpetrators of a massive car bomb blast that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri has appointed its main officials and adopted rules of procedures and evidence, the court announced today.

"The Special Tribunal for Lebanon now has the necessary tools to deal promptly and efficiently with the first files concerning the Hariri case, which the Lebanese authorities are expected to transfer in the next few weeks," its President, Antonio Cassese of Italy, said in a statement.

In consultation with President Cassese, who was the first president of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (<"http://www.icty.org/">ICTY), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appointed François Roux of France as the head of the defence office.

The Tribunal, an independent body located in The Hague, is designed to try those accused of recent political murders in Lebanon, particularly the February 2005 assassination of Mr. Hariri and 22 others in downtown Beirut.

Daniel Bellemare, a Canadian prosecutor and former head of the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) into the murders, assumed his office as Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal when it began operations earlier this month.

The judges and registrar of the court have already been sworn in as well, and rules governing detention and the directive on assignment of defence counsel have been adopted, the court said.

According to the Tribunal, President Cassese and Daniel Fransen of Belgium, the Pre-Trial Judge, will soon take up their duties on a full-time basis.

The other judges, for the Trial and Appeals Chambers, will take office on a date to be determined by the Secretary-General, in consultation with the President, and their names will be announced once all security measures are in place, the Tribunal said.

The investigation continues under the guidance of Prosecutor Bellemare, and a trial will take place when he has sufficient evidence is in place, according to the court.

START OF LEBANON TRIBUNAL 'DECISIVE MILESTONE' IN PURSUIT OF JUSTICE -- BAN

New York, Mar 1 2009 3:10PM
Just over four years after former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri and 22 others were killed in a terrorist attack in Beirut, the international tribunal set up to try the perpetrators began its work today, marking what Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon deemed a historic step in the search for justice.

"The commencement of the Tribunal''s work marks a decisive milestone in the tireless efforts by all Lebanese and the international community to uncover the truth, bring those responsible for this assassination and related crimes to justice and end impunity," Mr. Ban said in a <http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=3727>statement issued by his spokesperson.
As the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, an independent body located in The Hague, commenced functioning today, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the UN's commitment to its mission, and called on all Members States to fully supp
ort and cooperate with the court.

The Tribunal is designed to try those accused of recent political murders in Lebanon, particularly the February 2005 assassination of Mr. Hariri in a massive car bombing in downtown Beirut that killed 22 others.

The probe into the killings is being carried out by the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC), headed by Daniel Bellemare, a Canadian prosecutor.

As of today, Mr. Bellemare will assume office as Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal and continue his investigations from The Hague.

Mr. Bellemare, in a letter that was published in the media yesterday, noted that the IIIC is unique and precedent-setting in many ways. "Like any new process, it was not perfect. But we adjusted and found solutions where none existed. And as we close down our doors, we will leave behind a series of lessons learned for others to benefit if needed.

"But one thing remains beyond any doubt: the reason for which it was created, that is to help the p
eople of Lebanon find the truth and put an end to impunity is a noble cause that deserves our commitment and collective effort."

He added that while the investigative work will now continue from The Hague, the Office of the Prosecutor will have a field office in Beirut, which will serve as a base for the investigators who will undertake regular missions to Lebanon to collect evidence and to meet with Lebanese officials and witnesses as required.

UN Legal Counsel Patricia O'Brien is attending today's ceremony in the Netherlands on behalf of Mr. Ban to mark the start of the Tribunal.