Report: STL Delegation in Lebanon ‘Soon’ to Inquire about Suspects

A delegation from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare’s office will visit Beirut soon to meet with General Prosecutor Saeed Mirza, Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi and Interior Minister Marwan Charbel, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The daily reported that the delegation is expected to inquire the Lebanese officials about the exerted efforts to detain four Hizbullah suspects indicted in ex-PM Rafik Hariri’s murder, and the difficulties hindering the implementation of the international arrest warrants.

On Monday, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported that the STL sent a letter to Mirza asking him about the efforts of Lebanese authorities to find the four suspects.

Mirza, in his turn, handed the letter to Charbel, according to the newspaper.

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has continuously dismissed the tribunal as a U.S.-Israeli conspiracy, vowing that no member of the party would ever be found or arrested.

The delegation, according to al-Liwaa, will reiterate the STL’s relief over paying Lebanon’s dues.

Last week, the tribunal confirmed Lebanon's full payment for 2011 was received as Lebanon is responsible for meeting 49 percent of the funding of the tribunal created by a 2007 U.N. Security Council resolution at Lebanon's request.