Hariri: Special tribunal was achieved through the Lebanese people

Mar 1, 2009, 13:10 GMT

Beirut - The head of Lebanon's majority in parliament, Saad Hariri, said Sunday the launch of the Special Tribunal into the assassination of his father Rafik Hariri was achieved by the Lebanese people's will.

Hariri, in a statement made during a visit to Abu Dhabi, said the the Lebanese people 'expressed solidarity with the court, refused to be intimidated by threats, helped ending Syrian guardianship of Lebanon and liberated territories from Israeli occupation.'

Nothing could be stronger than the will of the people to ensure justice and preserve Lebanon's sovereignty, independence, freedom and Arabism, 'no matter how many challenges and difficulties there are.'

The international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri four years ago was formally constituted in The Hague Sunday.

The court, constituted under a United Nations mandate, is to probe among other things allegations that Syria was behind the killing of Hariri in a massive Beirut bomb blast on 14 February 2005.

Syria has repeatedly denied allegations of involvement in the Hariri attack, in which 22 other people were also killed.

Hariri's assassination has caused an international and local outcry prompting Syria to end its 30-year military presence in Lebanon, on April 26, 2005.

'This day is exceptional on the level of legal, international, Arab and Lebanese standards,' Hariri said.

'We do not aim to take revenge but only to ensure justice. We affirm that we will abide by all the court's decisions,' he said.

'The court will not be subject to any political blackmail or compromise at the expense of Lebanon's dignity,' Hariri said.