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.
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