UN Tribunal Created for Hariri Case

The U.N. Security Council voted Wednesday in favor of an international court to try suspects in the slaying of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The vote was 10-0 with Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia and Qata abstaining, RTT News reported.

Lebanon has until June 10 to ratify the proposal or the Security Council could go ahead an authorize a tribunal on its own as it did in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

Hariri and 22 others were killed when a car bomb exploded in Beirut Feb. 14, 2005. A U.N. probe cast suspicion on Syria and Lebanese security forces. Four pro-Syrian Lebanese generals have been held in the case for more than a year.

Syria denies any involvement and contends the special court would violate Lebanese sovereignty and cause further instability in the country. Syrian President Bashar Assad has said his nation would not deport any Syrian suspects and they would be tried in Syria.

Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora called the tribunal resolution a victory for Lebanon and its people. Rafik Hariri’s son Saad Hariri, said the tribunal was a turning point for the country and an opportunity for all Lebanese to unite.