Mustaqbal Secures Ministries Concerned with STL, Guarantees 'Supervision' over Security Matters

by Naharnet Newsdesk 15 February 2014, 14:54

With the formation of the new cabinet on Saturday, al-Mustaqbal movement has secured ministries that are concerned with the works of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is trying in absentia the five suspects accused of killing former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

MP Butros Harb, a member of the March 14 camp, has been appointed as the Telecommunications Minister, while former Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi was named the new Justice Minister, weeks after his nomination constituted a challenge that delayed the cabinet's formation.

The government had previously tasked the Justice Ministry with cooperating with the STL, while the Telecommunications Ministry's role lies in facilitating access to telecom data required for investigations.

Also, the Interior Ministry was appointed to al-Mustaqbal MP Nouhad Mashnouq, a man well known for his strong ties with the party and for his bold political stances that include calling on former PM Saad Hariri to resign in 2011 as well as refusing to hold any dialogue with Hizbullah.

Hence, al-Mustaqbal party has been able to preserve the sovereign Ministry of Interior since 2005 with Hassan al-Sabeh, MP Ahmed Fatfat and other centrist figures - former ministers Ziad Baroud and Marwan Charbel who are close to President Michel Suleiman, successively taking office.

Suleiman is known for backing the work of the STL.

The March 14 camp had announced in the ninth anniversary of the assassination of Hariri on Friday that a petition was sent to the United Nations requesting expansion of the STL's powers so that it can include investigations in all the assassinations including the latest of former Finance Minister Mohammad Shatah.

To date, the STL has the jurisdiction to look into the attacks on MP Marwan Hamadeh, former Lebanese Communist Party leader George Hawi and former Minister Elias el-Murr.

The Lebanese government’s approval is required if other cases are to be included.