Najjar Expects Indictment to be Released Monday

Caretaker Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar expected the prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to refer the indictment in ex-Premier Rafik Hariri's assassination case to the pre-trial judge on Monday.

"Prosecutor (Daniel) Bellemare could refer the indictment to Judge (Daniel) Fransen today," Najjar said following talks with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir in Bkirki.

According to the tribunal's rules of procedure, Fransen will examine the findings before confirming the indictment. Arrest warrants or summonses would be issued later and the process could take six to 10 weeks.

The caretaker minister expected PM Saad Hariri to regain his post and ruled out the opposition's resort to the street.

"Consultations are still in their primary stage and there are regional and international efforts" to solve the Lebanese crisis, Najjar told reporters.