Lebanon has been called on by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to respect the verdict of a UN-backed court on the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.
Spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement that, “The Secretary General’s thoughts are with the victims of the 14 February attack and their families.”
In the statement, Haq said “deep appreciation was expressed by Guterres for the dedication and hard work of the judges and staff involved in this case throughout the years.”
The “independence and impartiality of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon in the case” was also underlined by the UN chief,” Haq expressed.
In connection with Hariri’s killing in 2005 along with 22 other people, the UN Special Tribunal for Lebanon sentenced in absentia two members of the Hezbollah group to life imprisonment on Thursday.
Another Hezbollah member, whose whereabouts remain unknown, has also been convicted in absentia in 2020 by the court.
A UN resolution in 2007 to probe the assassination and other cases of serious nature in the country was formed by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
