France has denied comments attributed to President Nicolas Sarkozy that the decision of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon lies in the hands of the U.S.

Media sources in Paris quoted French officials as saying that Sarkozy stressed that the STL is "independent" and that "no one can pressure it (court) toward postponing the issuance of the charge sheet because all the elements associated with this resolution are not in the hands of France nor America nor the States funding the tribunal."

Druze leader Walid Jumblat said Washington is behind a decision to be issued by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon convicting people in the murder of ex-PM Rafik Hari.

"This phase requires a wait-and-see strategy," Jumblat said in remarks published by several Beirut dailies on Wednesday.

The Office of the Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon announced Tuesday that it has requested the Lebanese authorities to provide "additional information and evidence held by the Secretary General of Hizbullah" Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

"In response to the request of the Office of the Prosecutor, on 17 August 2010, Hizbullah officials hand-delivered to the Prosecutor General of Lebanon an envelope containing six DVDs. This material was handed over to the Office of the Prosecutor on the same day," a communiqué issued by STL's press office said.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Michael Williams noted Thursday that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon "may affect Lebanon's stability."

He pointed out however that there are other factors that may also target the country's stability, such as the tensions with Israel, adding: "We are trying to calm the situation and deal with the facts."

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Hizbullah official Nabil Qaouq stressed Monday that the Resistance “cannot allow the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to be used to achieve the goals of the July 2006 war.”

He said that the Resistance had raised the tone of rhetoric in order to avoid the dangers threatening Lebanon and the region, adding that it is in a strong position on the internal and external fronts.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat wondered on Monday "what would be wrong in political powers reviewing their rhetoric, experiences, and positions during a certain period?"

He urged in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated Anbaa magazine political powers to "exercise some humility so this necessary revision would take place to organize the political and national life."

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said Monday that those "speaking of strife are the ones behind it and preparing for it."

He stressed after meeting Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail the need to maintain the civil peace, emphasizing that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon is the "highest international legal authority."

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah called Sunday for the establishment of a Lebanese committee to investigate the issue of false witnesses in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri.

"Let them set up a committee -- a parliamentary, judicial, security, or ministerial committee—and bring witnesses and Mohammed Siddiq … and ask them who provided them with the information," Nasrallah said via video link during a celebration in honor of Hizbullah martyrs at Shahed Institute in Beirut's southern suburbs.

Turkey has reportedly stepped in to limit tension in Lebanon at a time when the country is gearing itself up for the visits of four top Arab leaders – Saudi King Abdullah, Syrian President Bashar Assad, Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and the King of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa.

As Safir daily quoted informed sources as saying Monday that Turkey is holding regional and international consultations to diffuse the tension that erupted over the expected announcement of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon's findings next fall.