UN urges new Lebanon government to respect Hariri murder tribunal

Jan 25, 2011, 22:16 GMT

New York - The newly designated Lebanese government should abide by its obligations to the special tribunal prosecuting the murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, a UN spokesman said Tuesday.

Martin Nesirky said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon 'expects any government that is formed in Lebanon to abide by international obligations that Lebanon has undertaken.'

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday asked billionaire businessman Najib Mikati, who is supported by militant group Hezbollah, to form a new government to replace the previous one headed by Saad Hariri, son of the slain former premier.

'The secretary general strongly supports the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is an independent judicial body,' Nesirky said. 'The work of the Special Tribunal should be unaffected by political developments.'

The fall of the Western-backed Saad Hariri government two weeks ago was triggered by the resignation of Hezbollah ministers. Hezbollah claimed that it was targeted in the prosecution of the February 2005 murder of the senior Hariri, who was a critic of the Syrian military occupation of Lebanon.

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