Naharnet

Jumblat: STL Could Become Minor Issue in Case of Civil War

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat brushed off the bickering between the March 8 and 14 forces on the international tribunal, saying they should instead avert a possible Lebanese civil war over the crisis in Syria.

“What’s happening in Lebanon, around us and in Syria could turn the tribunal into a minor issue if there was strife in Lebanon,” Jumblat said as he laid a wreath on the grave of his slain father Kamal Jumblat on the occasion of his birthday.

The bickering on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the so-called false witnesses is useless, he said. “Former PM Saad Hariri’s answer to Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah is neither beneficial nor positive.”

The Druze leader was referring to Hariri’s response to Nasrallah’s attack on him.

The false witnesses have allegedly misled U.N. investigators probing the assassination of ex-Premier Rafik Hariri.

The Hizbullah secretary-general urged Premier Najib Miqati to put the issue on the cabinet agenda and later refer it to the Higher Judicial Council to prosecute those standing behind the witnesses.

“I don’t think that Hizbullah would interfere in internal struggles in Syria,” Jumblat said, stressing that its arms are only aimed at defending Lebanon from Israel.

The Syrian crisis would only be solved through the Arab League initiative, the PSP chief said.

The League on Sunday awaited Syria's response to a deadline to allow in observers to monitor the country's unrest, a day after the pan-Arab body slapped sanctions on senior Syrian officials.


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