NewLife

LEBANON: The TSL publishes all of the indictment in the case of Rafik Hariri

AFP - The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) confirmed and made public Wednesday the entire indictment against the four Hezbollah members charged in connection with the investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

"The judge of the pretrial ordered that its decision confirming the indictment on the attack of 14 February 2005, and the indictment itself, are made public," said court in a statement.

According to TSL, "the judge of the pretrial held that the prosecutor had presented sufficient evidence, prima facie, to be initiated the trial phase."

In a separate statement released Wednesday, the prosecutor Daniel Bellemare of TSL said hosting "welcomes" the decision of the court.

"This order will finally allow the public and victims to take knowledge of the allegations contained in the indictment and the crimes for which charges were brought against the four accused," assured Mr.Bellemare.

According to the prosecutor's office of the STL, "the investigation is ongoing, as well as preparations for the trial."

Salim Ayyash, 47, Mustafa Badreddine, 50, Anaissi Hussein, 37, Assad and Sabra, 34, all members of Hezbollah, are believed to be responsible for the attack to the truck bomb that killed Rafik Hariri and 22 others in Beirut on 14 February 2005.

Referred to in the indictment filed Jan. 17 by Attorney Bellemare and had been partially confirmed in June, the four men are the subject of arrest warrants issued by the STL and a "Red Notice" issued Interpol.

August 11, the president of TSL, Antonio Cassese, had asked in an open letter to appear before the court, stating that "active participation (the procedure) remains the best guarantee of a fair trial."