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Mixed reaction to Security Council backing U.N. tribunal in Hariri killing
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Reaction was mixed to the divided Security Council vote Wednesday to create an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, said the resolution violates the U.N. charter and noted that three of the five council members that abstained represented Arab, Muslim and non-aligned countries. "The weight of these five countries bypasses by far the number of these countries," he said.
But the slain leader's son, Saad Hariri, hailed the vote as "a new chance for Lebanese unity." Speaking in a televised address, he said, "The Hariri tribunal is not a victory of one side over another in Lebanon. On the contrary, it is for all of Lebanon."
"Those who killed Rafik Hariri and so many others will be brought to justice and be held responsible for their crimes," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said. "The tribunal will also serve to deter future political assassinations. Those who might be tempted to commit similar crimes will know there will be consequences for perpetuating political violence and intimidation in Lebanon." (Posted 4:33 p.m.)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/30/wednesday/index.html
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Reaction was mixed to the divided Security Council vote Wednesday to create an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the 2005 killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, said the resolution violates the U.N. charter and noted that three of the five council members that abstained represented Arab, Muslim and non-aligned countries. "The weight of these five countries bypasses by far the number of these countries," he said.
But the slain leader's son, Saad Hariri, hailed the vote as "a new chance for Lebanese unity." Speaking in a televised address, he said, "The Hariri tribunal is not a victory of one side over another in Lebanon. On the contrary, it is for all of Lebanon."
"Those who killed Rafik Hariri and so many others will be brought to justice and be held responsible for their crimes," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said. "The tribunal will also serve to deter future political assassinations. Those who might be tempted to commit similar crimes will know there will be consequences for perpetuating political violence and intimidation in Lebanon." (Posted 4:33 p.m.)
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/05/30/wednesday/index.html