Clinton: STL finding still a secret

Amid rumors about the findings of the UN tribunal probing the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said no one knows about the court’s decision.

“We must reiterate that no one knows what the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) will do or who it will charge and when it choose to act,” Clinton said in an interview with Lebanon’s An-Nahar newspaper, published on Friday.

She made the remarks shortly after Hezbollah Secretary General Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah said the Lebanese resistance movement will not accept any accusations against its members over the 2005 assassination of the former Lebanese premier.

“Whoever thinks the resistance could possibly accept any accusation against any of its jihadists or leaders is mistaken — no matter the pressures and threats,” Nasrallah said on Thursday.

The US secretary of state also pointed out that “intimidation or threats” from Hezbollah should not be tolerated.

While the STL and Western officials claim that the court’s finding remains a secret, there are unconfirmed reports suggesting that the tribunal plans to charge some Hezbollah members in connection with the assassination of Hariri, who was killed in a massive car bomb explosion on February 14, 2005. Twenty-two others also lost their lives in the explosion.

The Lebanese resistance movement has repeatedly denied any involvement in the killing and has described the tribunal as an “Israeli project” trying to undermine the resistance movement.

Hezbollah has also accused the tribunal of basing its investigations on testimonies provided by “false witnesses”.

Nasrallah also warned that the court had led Beirut to a “sensitive place” aimed at inciting division in the country.

The STL set up by the United Nations and the Lebanese government in May 2007 is expected to announce its findings by the end of 2010.