After assassination, UN gives green light to tribunal

By JT Nguyen Nov 22, 2006, 1:26 GMT

New York - The UN Security Council on Tuesday authorized the creation of a tribunal to try those responsible for the murder of a former Lebanese prime minister, capping a tense day after the assassination of yet another Lebanese politician, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.

The council's decision came in the form of a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan giving the green light for the tribunal. Annan was to transmit the letter to the Lebanese government.

'This is an important signal to send in support of the democratic forces in Lebanon and we are quite pleased of the outcome today,' US Ambassador John Bolton said.

The shooting of Gemayel in his car in Beirut as he sped through a Christian neighbourhood was the latest blow to the fledgling democratic government in Lebanon that took over after last year's Cedar revolution.

The killing of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who opposed the decades-long occupation by the Syrian military, in February 2005 unleashed protests and increased international pressure for Syria to withdraw.

A year after the withdrawal, the growing might of the militant Hezbollah Shiite militia drew Lebanon into a month-long war with Israel in July - and demonstrated the inability of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora to control the armed groups within its border.

The decision last week by the Lebanese government to refer the Hariri investigation to a UN tribunal sparked a round of resignations by five Shiite Muslim ministers and a sixth minister loyal to the pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud.

A UN-brokered investigation underway since mid-2005 has been trying to find those involved in the Hariri murder and the killing of at least 14 other political victims in Lebanon, most of them anti- Syrian. Initial conclusions have pointed to Syrian involvement in the assassination.

The Security Council acted to form the tribunal on Tuesday after condemning the newest killing. World leaders, including US President George W Bush, called for immediate council action on the tribunal after Gemayel's assassination.

Before approving the tribunal, the council condemned 'any attempt to destabilise Lebanon through political assassination or other terrorist acts. It called Gemayel 'a patriot who was the symbol of freedom and political independence.'

US officials called the killing of Gemayel a terrorist act and a 'political assassination.' Annan called the killing a 'cold-blooded murder.'

'Such acts of terrorism are unacceptable and have no place in a democratic and open society,' Annan said. He said Gemayel believed 'strongly in an independent, democratic and united Lebanon.'

While UN diplomats preferred not to link the death of Gemayel with previous assassinations, an agitated Bolton hinted to a connection with Damascus.

'If you look at evidence of past political assassinations (in Lebanon), people can draw their own conclusions,' Bolton said.

Bush also avoided making a direct link to Syria, but in the same speech that he condemned Gemayel's killing he also denounced efforts by Syria, Iran and 'their allies' to foment 'instability and violence' in Lebanon.

'We support the Siniora government and its democracy, and we support the Lebanese people's desire to live in peace and their efforts to defend their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran and their allies to foment instability and violence in that country,' Bush said.

Bush also warned that Syria's continuing interference violated UN Security Council resolutions 1559 and 1701, and vowed that the US would 'protect Lebanon's sovereignty and democratic institutions.'

In an interview with Cable News Network, Syria's Ambassador to the United States Imad Moustapha 'categorically' rejected the notion that Damascus was involved in Gemayel's killing. Instead, he said the killing interferes with Syria's quest for discussion with Washington over the deteriorating situation in Iraq.

The Syrian ambassador noted the coincidence of the killing coming at a time that some figures in Washington, including former Republican Secretary of State James Baker who heads an Iraq study group, are advocating direct talks with Iran and Syria over the future course in Iraq.

'Suddenly, this crime takes place today and the US administration feels it would give them an opportunity not to engage with Syria,' Moustapha said. 'This proves despite our sincere efforts to stabilize the situation in Lebanon, very influential figures are fiercely opposed to such an agreement.'

At the United Nations, Bolton strongly rejected charges that US interference in the Middle East caused instability.

'How incredibly wrong that could be,' Bolton said. 'They're killing people in Lebanon and they are assassinating political leaders.'

The murder of Hariri and 22 others on February 14, 2005 have been under under investigation by a UN commission headed by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz.

The tribunal will have between 11 and 14 independent judges who will serve in trial and appeals chambers. A single international judge will serve as a pre-trial judge. The Lebanese government and the UN secretary general will discuss the judges' appointments.

A prosecutor is to be appointed by the UN secretary general for a three-year period.

The headquarters of the tribunal will be situated outside of Lebanon in consideration of 'justice and fairness, administrative efficiency, the rights of the victims and proximity to witnesses ... security arrangements and affordable costs,' the UN said.