Free Republic

Former Lebanon Prime Minister Saad Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, lauded the indictments handed to Hezbollah officials by the UN-backed tribunal probing Hariri's 2005 assassination, calling it a "historic moment." The handover of the indictments to Lebanese prosecutor general Saeed Mirza was made during a meeting with three judges from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which has given Lebanon 30 days to respond. Saad Hariri issued a statement shortly after the indictment was handed to Mirza warning the new Hezbollah-led cabinet that it must abide by Lebanon's commitments toward the international tribunal.

The recent assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri evoked diverse reactions in the Arab world. The claim of responsibility by the unknown Support and Jihad - Greater Syria organization in a video recording aired by Al-Jazeera TV was rejected by many. Opposition elements in Lebanon that had gained Al-Hariri's support prior to his death blamed Syria and the Lebanese government, called for the establishment of an international investigative committee, and declared February 18, 2005 to be the date of the outbreak of the "Intifada of Independence" that would act to bring about a Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon and...