Lebanon: Hariri trial financing divides majority

Lebanon: Hariri trial financing divides majority 
07 October , 16:58

(ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, OCTOBER 7 - The issue of Lebanon financing the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) on the 2005 killing of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri seems to pose a threat to the strength of the government. The Shiite movement Hezbollah, which leads the majority and has seen four of its members indicted by the tribunal, continues to oppose the financing while Prime Minister Najob Mikati would like Beirut to fulfill its obligations. ''The tribunal will continue its work, whether we pay or not,'' Mikati was quoted as saying by today's Daily Star, implying that in the case of a refusal the UN might inflict sanctions on Lebanon. But Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah reiterated that ''the tribunal will not be financed by Lebanon'', according to the newspaper Al Akhbar. On the basis of Resolution 1757 of the United Nations Security Council, which established the special tribunal, Lebanon is obliged to pay just under 50% of its expenses for 2011, which overall total 65 million dollars. 

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