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Hariri suspects' release ordered Hariri suspects' release ordered
(about 1 hour later)
Four Lebanese generals held over the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri should be freed, a UN tribunal has ruled. A UN court has ordered the release of four Lebanese generals held over the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
They have been held without charge in Lebanon for four years - but were recently transferred to UN custody.They have been held without charge in Lebanon for four years - but were recently transferred to UN custody.
The decision was eagerly awaited in Lebanon and it was due to be broadcast live on television in the country. Supporters of the generals, mainly from the pro-Syrian Hezbollah, fired guns into the air to celebrate the decision.
The UN court was set up to try those suspected of being behind the blast which killed Mr Hariri in 2005. The UN court was set up to try those suspected of being behind the suicide attack which killed Mr Hariri in 2005.
Another 22 people also died in the explosion. Another 22 people also died in the bombing.
Syria link Insufficient evidence
The four men in custody were pro-Syrian generals who all held senior positions in the country's security infrastructure.The four men in custody were pro-Syrian generals who all held senior positions in the country's security infrastructure.
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
  • Republican Guard commander Mustafa Hamdan
They were suspected of planning the assassination and carrying out terrorist acts.They were suspected of planning the assassination and carrying out terrorist acts.
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. Belgian pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen ruled that there was not enough evidence to hold them.
The court's Canadian prosecutor, Daniel Bellemare, handed his recommendation on the generals' fate to the court on Monday but his submission has not been made public. "The pre-trial judge orders, unless they are held in another case, the release with immediate effect," the judge said.
Prosecutors were challenged earlier this month by Belgian pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen to justify their continued detention. Syria link
Although the tribunal has decided to free the generals, they can still be indicted at a later stage. The decision was greeted with jubilation on the streets of Beirut by supporters of the generals, who fired guns in the air in celebration.
There is widespread suspicion inside and outside Lebanon that Syria was involved in Mr Hariri's killing, though Damascus strongly denies this. Naji Bustany, lawyer for Mustafa Hamdan and Raymond Azar, welcomed the decision, but said it should have been taken earlier.
"After 44 months, justice has been done. It should have been 43 months ago," he told the AFP news agency.
Analysts say the release of the generals is likely to give a boost to Lebanon's pro-Syrian opposition, led by Hezbollah, in an election to be held in June.
But the generals could still be indicted at a later stage despite the tribunal's decision.
There is widespread suspicion that Syria was involved in Mr Hariri's killing, though Damascus strongly denies this.
The assassination prompted massive demonstrations, which led to an end of decades of Syrian control over Lebanon.The assassination prompted massive demonstrations, which led to an end of decades of Syrian control over Lebanon.