JURIST - Paper Chase: Hariri tribunal proposal goes to Lebanon president for approval

[JURIST] The Lebanese cabinet on Monday sent a draft measure [JURIST report] concerning the creation of a UN-supported international tribunal [JURIST news archive] to try suspects accused of assassinating former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri to Lebanese President Emile Lahoud [official website] for his approval. Lahoud is not expected to back the accord, having labeled the cabinet's weekend vote on the measure "null and void" and having rejected a preliminary cabinet approval [JURIST reports] of the tribunal as "unconstitutional" after all the cabinet's Shiite lawmakers resigned before the vote. The proposal was nevertheless forwarded to the UN Security Council, which approved the proposal [JURIST report] last week after the assassination of anti-Syrian Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.

In addition to Lahoud's backing, the Lebanese Parliament must also approve the measure before Lebanon can be deemed to have formally accepted it. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is also head of Shiite party Amal, has expressed agreement with Lahoud's view that the current cabinet make-up is unconstitutional. AP has more.

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