Spokesman Says Many Countries Funding STL

A spokesman of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon probing the assassination of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri told An Nahar newspaper on Friday that the opening of the trials is a decision taken by the trial chamber only.

The spokesman said that the trial date depends on a number of factors, including the time needed by the defense office to examine the evidence presented by Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare.

Asked about funding of the tribunal, the spokesman stressed “The STL is receiving contributions from many countries.”

“We are certain that the STL will remain receiving funds in 2011,” the official noted.

STL Registrar Herman von Hebel stressed last week that the trials in the Hariri murder will begin in mid-2012 whether they were in the presence of the suspects or in absentia.

The STL was created by a 2007 U.N. Security Council resolution, at Lebanon's request, to try those responsible for Hariri's murder. He was killed in a suicide car bombing along with 22 other people including a bomber on February 14, 2005.

Earlier this month, the court published a full indictment, saying it had enough evidence to put four members of Hizbullah on trial.

Judge Antonio Cassese, the tribunal president, has called on Beirut to "intensify" efforts to arrest the four.