Tribunal probes death of Hariri

HEZBOLLAH yesterday denounced a UN decision to form an international tribunal on former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination as a “violation” of the nation’s sovereignty.

“The resolution, as much as it constitutes a violation of the Lebanese state and an attack on its internal affairs, it is contrary to legal rules and the charters and principles of the United Nations and the objectives for which it was established to achieve,” said a statement issued by the group.

The UN Security Council voted on Wednesday night to approve the tribunal, bypassing Lebanon’s parliament. which failed to meet to endorse it.

The Shiite Muslim militant group has previously warned against the creation of the tribunal under the militarily enforceable Chapter 7 of the UN Charter.

The Hezbollah statement said the resolution placed Lebanon under “international tutelage, without decision-making and sovereignty.”

The pro-Syrian and pro-Iranian group said the government was giving “a glorious favour” to the US administration through which it could use Lebanon as a card that could be used to exert political pressure.

Hezbollah insisted the creation of the tribunal would not help solve the political crisis buffeting Lebanon.