Syria brands Hariri tribunal as harmful ploy by Washington

[oberliner]

Source: The Guardian

Syria has reacted angrily to the UN's decision to set up a special international tribunal to try the killers of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, warning that it could worsen the already volatile situation in Lebanon.

The state media in Damascus yesterday condemned what it called "a joint move" by the US and Israel to "punish" Syria for its policies on Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon. In fact, the decision to set up the tribunal was supported by 10 members of the 15-strong UN security council, with Russia and China, which have the power of veto veto, abstaining from the landmark vote in New York late on Wednesday evening.

Syria's president, Bashar al-Assad, has already made clear that he will not cooperate with the body.

Walid Muallem, Syria's foreign minister, told the Guardian this week that there was a "contradiction" between Washington's desire to improve its troubled relations with Damascus and its insistence on the tribunal, which he said undermined Lebanon's sovereignty. "This is a political tribunal, not a criminal one, and will be used for political reasons," he said. "If it was a truly criminal one, everyone in Lebanon would support it."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/syria/story/0,,2092912,00.html

[youngdem]

1. I still wonder if the CIA killed Hariri

It sure seemed convenient, and it sure seemed to only help our interests. Lebanon was terrorized and Syria was demonized. Seems helpful in our pursuit of Israel's interest as her proxy army.

I just wonder. Seems strange that the US hasn't managed to allege a perpetrator other than the state of Syria, and I fail to see how it helps any other party in the group.

All seems very suspicious.

[robcon]

2. "Punishing" Syria for their interference in Lebanon

is a legitimate exercise, IMO. They should pay mot only for murdering Hariri, but for manipulating Lebanon through threats and intimidation.