Lebanon PM: I was wrong to accuse Syria of Rafik Hariri murder
Lebanese Prime Minister says tribunal investigating assassination of senior Hariri will focus on facts, not political grudges.
By Reuters Tags: Lebanon Israel newsLebanon's prime minister said he was wrong to accuse Syria of killing his father, Rafik Hariri, in 2005, and said the charge against Damascus had been politically motivated.
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Lebanese Prime Minister Said Hariri, Beirut, May 20, 2010 |
| Photo by: AP |
Saad Hariri's comments to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, published on Monday, were the clearest repudiation to date of his earlier accusation that Syria was behind the Beirut bombing which killed his father and 22 others five years ago. Syria had repeatedly denied the charge.
The assassination provoked a domestic and international outcry which forced Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to withdraw troops from Lebanon, ending nearly three decades of military presence in its smaller neighbor.
Hariri has since mended relations with Damascus, visiting Assad several times in the last year and stressing Lebanon's need for strong ties with Syria.
"We assessed the mistakes that we made with Syria, that harmed the Syrian people and relations between the two countries," Hariri told the newspaper.
"At a certain stage we made mistakes and accused Syria of assassinating the martyred premier. This was a political accusation, and this political accusation has finished."
Rafik Hariri's killing remains a highly charged issue in Lebanon. A United Nations investigation initially implicated Syria, but media reports have said that the United Nations prosecutor may issue indictments against members of the militant Shi'ite group Hezbollah. Hezbollah denies any involvement.
Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has dismissed the UN tribunal as an Israeli project, but Hariri has defended the court's independence.
Arguments over the tribunal's credibility, and the prospect of possible Hezbollah indictments, has shaken Lebanon's fragile national unity government which is led by Hariri and includes Hezbollah ministers.
"The tribunal is not linked to the political accusations which were hasty... The tribunal will only look at evidence," Hariri was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
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Rafik Hariri is a shameless liar. He told me in Riyadh in 1998 that the Syrians would kill his father.
I do have the greatest respect for Mr.Hariri. His approach is quite pragmatic, however I am sure that since so much water has passed under the bridge, he may well have to even retreat a few steps backwards once the final report, that by the way has been "delayed" due to political considerations finally makes its appearance.One cannot therefore, but feel sad, for his three legged throne may well come crashing down. Nobody has a crystal ball, however Mr.Nasrallah could well pass on the buck, so to speak, on some minions that are willing martyrs, for execution will no doubt become the final sentence. The late Mr.Hariri was a clever man, who built an empire in construction, he also was interested in peace with Israel, although not made public, emissaries were in contact with third parties, to the dismay of those that believed that peace was not an option, rather a wedge against extreme Islamic principals of global jihad. We witness the same attitude against Mr.Abbas, who has been denounced in all form and manner, again, one cannot but respect this Palestinian leader who soon enough will face a possible Fatwah from Qom. Good day.
that his son saad had no choice. if he wants to stay alive he needs to please the occupiers ie hez, syria and iran
As is the way of things at times but nice to see the truth finally trickle through. Not to mention..."The tribunal is not linked to the political accusations which were hasty... The tribunal will only look at evidence..." This man is rapidly becoming a leader to be admired at least as far as the ME is concerned.
Problem is he is no longer pulling the strings in Lebanon Syria & Iran are via Hizbollah. Lebanon is once again a syrian province rather than an independent state. they had a shot at independence when the drove Syria out then through Hizbollah and the diplomatic route they have turned the country over to Assad again.
the lebanerse PM was ordered to give such statement during his last visit to syria ; he seems to forget how assad was slapping his late father; what a pity ! lebanon is really going down
What ??? There was no outcry of Syrian troops occupying Lebanon.