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| Hariri court opens at The Hague | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| An international court set up to try the suspected killers of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri has opened, four years after the killing. | |
| The tribunal, sitting at The Hague, could take up to five years to examine evidence gathered during a UN investigation into the assassination. | |
| Mr Hariri and 22 other people were killed in the 2005 bombing in Beirut that his allies blamed on Syria. | Mr Hariri and 22 other people were killed in the 2005 bombing in Beirut that his allies blamed on Syria. |
| Syria denied any role. Four people in custody have not been charged. | Syria denied any role. Four people in custody have not been charged. |
| But they are considered most likely to be the first defendants to appear before the court - although a trial date has yet to be set. | But they are considered most likely to be the first defendants to appear before the court - although a trial date has yet to be set. |
| Senior officials | Senior officials |
| "The prosecutor has kept his cards very close to his chest," said court registrar Robin Vincent about potential suspects and evidence, AFP news agency reported. | "The prosecutor has kept his cards very close to his chest," said court registrar Robin Vincent about potential suspects and evidence, AFP news agency reported. |
| "It is important that he does that for confidentiality." | "It is important that he does that for confidentiality." |
| The four men in custody were pro-Syrian generals who all held senior positions in the country's security infrastructure. Robin Vincent said prosecution plans remained confidential | The four men in custody were pro-Syrian generals who all held senior positions in the country's security infrastructure. Robin Vincent said prosecution plans remained confidential |
| They are former head of General Security Maj Gen Jamil al-Sayyad, former chief of police Maj Gen Ali Hajj, former military intelligence chief Brig Gen Raymond Azar and Republican Guard commander Mustafa Hamdan. | They are former head of General Security Maj Gen Jamil al-Sayyad, former chief of police Maj Gen Ali Hajj, former military intelligence chief Brig Gen Raymond Azar and Republican Guard commander Mustafa Hamdan. |
| Last week, three civilians, two of them Lebanese and one Syrian, were released from custody. | Last week, three civilians, two of them Lebanese and one Syrian, were released from custody. |
| The court, with 11 judges, was created in 2007 by the UN, but will open with a formal ceremony on Sunday. | The court, with 11 judges, was created in 2007 by the UN, but will open with a formal ceremony on Sunday. |
| Canadian prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, who led the investigation into the killing, will address the ceremony. | Canadian prosecutor Daniel Bellemare, who led the investigation into the killing, will address the ceremony. |
| The prosecutor has 60 days, from 1 March, to apply to the Lebanese authorities for the transfer of suspects and evidence files. | The prosecutor has 60 days, from 1 March, to apply to the Lebanese authorities for the transfer of suspects and evidence files. |
| The tribunal is what many Lebanese have long been waiting for, says BBC correspondent Natalia Antelava in Beirut. | The tribunal is what many Lebanese have long been waiting for, says BBC correspondent Natalia Antelava in Beirut. |
| The assassination caused such a public outcry in Lebanon that Syria was forced to withdraw its troops, ending its 30-year domination of Lebanon, and changing the course of the country's history, she added. | The assassination caused such a public outcry in Lebanon that Syria was forced to withdraw its troops, ending its 30-year domination of Lebanon, and changing the course of the country's history, she added. |
| Improving relations | Improving relations |
| The allies of the former prime minister blamed it on Syria, which was then Lebanon's political master. | The allies of the former prime minister blamed it on Syria, which was then Lebanon's political master. |
| Damascus has always denied it had anything to do with the attack, but in its early stages the UN investigation implicated top-level Syrian security officials, including the president's brother-in-law. | Damascus has always denied it had anything to do with the attack, but in its early stages the UN investigation implicated top-level Syrian security officials, including the president's brother-in-law. |
| However, the current investigator has been much less outspoken and it is not clear whether the tribunal will have enough evidence to prove a link to Syria. | However, the current investigator has been much less outspoken and it is not clear whether the tribunal will have enough evidence to prove a link to Syria. |
| And some in Lebanon are sceptical about whether the tribunal will ever be able to uncover the full truth - especially because the overall political climate in the region has changed, our correspondent adds. | And some in Lebanon are sceptical about whether the tribunal will ever be able to uncover the full truth - especially because the overall political climate in the region has changed, our correspondent adds. |
| Syria and Lebanon have recently established diplomatic ties and the West is keen to improve its relations with Damascus. | Syria and Lebanon have recently established diplomatic ties and the West is keen to improve its relations with Damascus. |