Lebanon tribunal releases indictment details
The UN-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) on Friday released the names of four men wanted for the killing in 2005 of Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen ordered the lifting of confidentiality on the full names, aliases, biographical information, photographs and charges against the individuals named in the indictment, the tribunal said in a statement.
The four men named in the indictment are Salim Jamil Ayyash, Mustafa Amine Badreddine, Hussein Hassan Oneissi, and Assad Hassan Sabra, the tribunal said.
The prosecution alleges that the four were involved in the 14 February 2005 attack that killed the former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and others.
The order states that prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, after consultations with the Lebanese prosecutor general, indicated that lifting the confidentiality of this information “does not contradict Lebanese law with regard to executing arrests.
Bellemare said that making the information available to the public may increase the likelihood of the four being arrested.
The Prosecutor submitted the indictment for review to judge Fransen in January. The indictment and accompanying arrest warrants were transmitted to the Lebanese authorities in 30 June.
Fransen issued international arrest warrants against the accused in July.
Fransen authorised the Office of the Prosecutor to provide Interpol with the necessary information to issue a “red notice” against each accused.
The deadline for authorities in Lebanon to report on the progress made in carrying out the arrest warrants is 11 August. The court said the Lebanese authorities have an ongoing responsibility to arrest, detain, and transfer the accused.