Vincent, The Tribunal will Ask Transfer of 4 Generals to The Hague, All Trials to Be Broadcast

Ban: Courtroom Will be Ready for Use at Beginning of 2010 - w/Video

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon said the courtroom at The Hague, where suspects in the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri would be tried, will be ready for use by the beginning of 2010.

Ban stressed, however, in his third report on procedures regarding implementation of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757, that security measures around the international tribunal's courtroom building would be completed early next month.

Excerpts from his report were published Thursday by some Lebanese newspapers. The full Ban report is set to be released Feb. 28.

Ban emphasized he would "only" announce names of judges presiding over the Hariri trial when all necessary security measures to protect them had been completed.

He said that adoption of such measures is the key point to the success of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Beirut, 26 Feb 09, 09:02

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&AD524F4B6C9C7373C22575690026DD34

Lahay - lbci report - Mona Saliba - Montage : Joe Matar - 24/022009

The Tribunal will Ask Transfer of 4 Generals to The Hague, All Trials to Be Broadcast

The international tribunal's registrar, Robin Vincent, announced that Lebanese authorities would be asked to transfer to The Hague the four generals held in connection with ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's murder as soon as the court starts functioning.

Vincent, in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV network Sunday night, said he didn't think there would be any difficulty in handing over those arrested in Hariri's Feb. 2005 assassination case to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

He said the four former security generals, who are in custody since 2005, were arrested based on information of early investigations under Detlev Mehlis, the former head of the U.N. commission probing Hariri's assassination.

The generals are former presidential guard chief Mustafa Hamdan, the former head of the general security department Jamil Sayyed, Ali Hajj, who was internal security forces chief, and the former head of army intelligence Raymond Azar.

Vincent told the TV station that a request would be submitted to the Lebanese authorities for the transfer to The Hague of investigation files and those in Lebanese custody within a period of two months from the day the court starts functioning on March 1.

He said the witnesses in Hariri's case will be given new identifications and will be transferred to other locations. Vincent unveiled that discussions are underway with U.N. Security Council member states to host the witnesses.

Meanwhile, administrative officials told al-Mustaqbal daily that the tribunal's website will be improved to carry the latest developments in the trial in three languages – Arabic, French and English.

The sources said TV and radio stations and the website will broadcast the trials delayed by 30 minutes for security and legal purposes.

The court will also provide journalists with photos they need to cover the trials.

The officials told al-Mustaqbal that the Lebanese bureau at the tribunal will be in the service of Lebanese media. 

Beirut, 23 Feb 09, 08:57

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/getstory?openform&AD524F4B6C9C7373C22575690026DD34