REPORT: STL ends second day of deliberations at The Hague

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The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) ended its second day of deliberations on Friday, with the prosecution further outlining telecoms evidence it relied on to identify Hezbollah suspects being tried in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The STL will resume its sessions on Monday morning, and will present evidences and summon witnesses on Wednesday.

Several Lebanese officials attended the session, including former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Deputy Speaker Farid Makari, MPs Sami Gemayel and Marwan Hamadeh as well as former MPs Bassem al-Sabeh and Ghattas Khoury.

The session was also attended by Lebanese martyrs' relatives, including Toufic Antoine Ghanem, Zaher Walid Eido, father of late Major Wissam Eid, brother of late George Hawi, wife of late Brigadier General Wissam Hassan, Gisele Khoury wife of late journalist Samir Kassir and Dr. May Chidiac.

This as, STL spokesman Martin Youssef told LBCI that the Lebanese authorities should continue to search for the accused and thus hand them over to the tribunal, despite that the trial is held in absentia.

"There is no specific time for issuing verdicts. We are trying, as a tribunal, to steer clear of politics and the tribunal will accuse individuals, not parties," Youssef said.
For his part, the President of Beirut Bar Association, George Jreij, told LBCI that yesterday's session was essential, noting that everyone should seek truth and justice.

The trial in absentia of the four suspects accused of killing Lebanese statesman Rafik Hariri opened in The Hague on Thursday morning, nine years after the bomb attack in which the former prime minister and 21 others died.

In this context, the prosecution said that Badreddine and Salim Ayyash prepared for Hariri’s assassination before 4 months and monitored his actions over three months, adding that the driver of the explosive laden van detonated himself near Hariri’s convoy manually, not remotely.

The prosecution added that the Mitsubishi vehicle used in Hariri’s assassination was sold in Tripoli, after being imported from an Arab country, adding that it was not used before the explosion.

STL spokesman Marten Youssef said Thursday that a new chapter of justice just started, adding that the Lebanese people will achieve truth.

To watch Bassam Abou Zeid's report, please click on the VIDEO above