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.

BEIRUT, (Reuters) - A U.N. inquiry into the murder of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri will summon more Syrian witnesses in the next few days, its chief investigator Detlev Mehlis was quoted on Saturday as saying. In an interview published in Lebanon's al-Mustaqbal newspaper, which was owned by the murdered ex-premier, Mehlis said he would ask Syria in the next few days if U.N. investigators could question new Syrian witnesses in Vienna, but did not identify them. International investigators questioned five Syrian officials in the Austrian capital this week in connection with the Feb. 14 truck bomb that killed...

BEIRUT,(Agencies) - Lebanon has asked U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan to extend for six months the mandate of an inquiry into the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Prime Minister Fouad Siniora told Annan in a phone call on Saturday that the Lebanese government wanted the inquiry to continue for six months after its Dec. 15 deadline, and be open to further extensions, a statement from his office said. Lebanon's government agreed on Thursday to ask the United Nations to continue its probe into the Feb. 14 truck bombing that killed Hariri and 22 others, but U.N. diplomats said the...

Faced with the threat of United Nations' sanctions, Syria has launched its own investigation into the killing of Lebanon's former prime minister, Rafik al-Hariri. The inquiry has been ordered by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. It will question Syrian civilians and military personnel and cooperate with a UN inquiry that has implicated senior Syrian officials in the February 14 assassination. Detlev Mehlis, who is leading the UN investigation into Mr Hariri's murder, urged Syria at a Security Council meeting earlier this week to set up its own probe and to cooperate fully with international investigators. Syria has denied any role in...

In assessing the current phase of events in the Middle East, it is essential to link events in Syria with events in Iran. These, in turn, must be linked to the state of the war in Iraq and conditions in the Arabian Peninsula. The region is of one fabric, to say the least, and it is impossible to understand unfolding events -- the pressure against Syria involving the murder of a former Lebanese prime minister; feints and thrusts with Iran and talk of direct political engagement with the United States; the emergence of a new government in Baghdad, or obstacles...

Thousands of Syrians took to the streets of Damascus Monday to protest a U.N. probe they said unfairly blames the government for the killing of Lebanese former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. Damascus says the investigation was politically motivated and denies any involvement in the assassination. The U.N. report, issued last week, implicated Lebanese and Syrian officials in the killing. It said Syria's cooperation in the probe was limited. In an interview with British radio on Sunday, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw called for international pressure against Syria. Syria's official news agency reported President...

UN Gives Green Light for Israel, Syria, Iran WarBy Joel Leyden Israel News Agency Jerusalem----October 21......Israel has been living in a state of war with Syria for decades. Living under the constant threat of missile attacks from both Syria and Lebanon territory hour after passing hour. This tiny, democratic Jewish state has reached out for peace time and time again. Syria responded with Katusha rocket terror attacks across the Israel Lebanon border and the planning of Islamic terrorism inside both Israel and Lebanon. Now the UN has provided clear proof that Syria has been an open aggressor in the Middle-East...

REUTERS NEWS AGENCY BEIRUT — A huge car bomb yesterday killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, a billionaire who masterminded his country's reconstruction but resigned four months ago amid tensions with Syria. At least nine others, including several of Mr. al-Hariri's bodyguards, died when his motorcade was blown up as it passed through an exclusive section of Beirut's seafront. Former Economy Minister Basil Fuleihan, also riding in the convoy, was critically wounded in the blast, the biggest in Lebanon since the end of the nation's 1975-90 civil war. At least 100 other persons were injured, officials said. The United...

Lebanese Television is reporting that Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Al-Hariri, handed in his resignation Tuesday night to President Emile Lahoud. Lahod reportedly accepted his Prime Minister's resignation and is expected to ask Hariri's replacement, as yet unknown, to establish a new government. Lebanese TV did not provide a reason for Hariri's resignation. Hariri submitted his Cabinet's resignation to President Emile Lahoud after a meeting at the presidential palace Tuesday night. Lahoud asked Hariri to continue as caretaker until a new prime minister is appointed and a Cabinet formed. Hariri is widely expected to be asked to form the next government....