Russia questions Lebanon approval of Hariri court
Source: Reuters
(Adds quotes, detail, background, paragraphs 4-11) By Irwin Arieff UNITED NATIONS, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Russia questioned on Thursday whether Lebanon's government had acted legitimately in approving a special U.N.-backed court to try suspects in the murder of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. "We are somewhat bothered" that the plan had been approved by the Lebanese government but opposed by its president, Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said when asked if Moscow questioned the legitimacy of the government's approval. Before Russia could consent to the plan along with its Security Council colleagues, "We will look at how it all fits into the Lebanese Constitution," he said. Churkin's comments came shortly after Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a draft plan for the special court to the Security Council for its approval. Before it could be set up, the court would have to be approved by the Lebanese parliament as well as the 15-nation council. A suicide truck bombing killed Hariri and 22 other people in 2005, sparking anti-Syrian protests and eventually the end of Syria's long-running military presence in Lebanon. The U.N. investigation has implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials. Syria denies any role in the bombing. A depleted Lebanese government, led by anti-Syrian Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, had approved the blueprint for the court on Monday and sent a letter to Annan formally notifying the U.N. leader of that action. But Lebanon's pro-Syrian president, Emile Lahoud, promptly wrote Annan that the approval had been illegitimate because he had not himself approved it. Lahoud also said the Cabinet session that approved the draft was illegitimate. Six pro-Syrian opposition ministers, including all of the Shi'ite Muslims in government, did not attend the session. Five ministers from Shi'ite groups Hezbollah and Amal had quit the Lebanese Cabinet on Saturday when talks over giving the opposition a greater say in government collapsed. A sixth minister, loyal to Lahoud, resigned before Monday's cabinet session. Lahoud said the Cabinet decision on Monday did not bind the Lebanese state, although he added he supported the idea of the tribunal, "but with regulations." Churkin, speaking to reporters, noted the conflicting statements by Siniora and Lahoud and said: "This is one of the things we will be looking at."
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