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UN to vote on Hariri murder court UN approves Hariri murder court
(about 11 hours later)
The UN Security Council is to vote on setting up an international court to try suspects in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The UN Security Council has approved the creation of an international court to try suspects in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The draft resolution says an agreement between the UN and the Lebanese government to establish the court will come into force on 10 June. The resolution was adopted by 10 votes to zero, with five abstentions from Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar.
The court's creation is the subject of intense political debate in Lebanon.The court's creation is the subject of intense political debate in Lebanon.
Mr Hariri and 22 others were killed in a massive bomb blast in Beirut on 14 February 2005. Mr Hariri and 22 others were killed in a massive car bomb in the capital, Beirut, on 14 February 2005.
Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora backs plans for an international tribunal, while the mainly pro-Syrian opposition has blocked attempts to establish it. Lebanon now has until 10 June to ratify the proposal, otherwise the Security Council may independently authorise a tribunal, as it did in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.
Because of these divisions, the Lebanese government asked the Security Council to act. Sad history
The US, UK and France have pushed for the Security Council to establish the court, arguing that political assassination cannot go unpunished. Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora backs the plans for an international tribunal, while the mainly pro-Syrian opposition has blocked attempts to establish it.
Diplomats predict a majority in favour of establishing the court, but suggest five countries - Russia, China, South Africa, Indonesia and Qatar - could abstain, says the BBC's UN correspondent Laura Trevelyan in New York. The issue of the tribunal has caused deep divisions in LebanonSaad Hariri, the son of the assassinated politician, said the tribunal was a turning point for the country and "an opportunity for all Lebanese to unite".
Russia and South Africa ask why the Security Council is overriding Lebanon's sovereign parliament, our correspondent says. Speaking live on Lebanese television he said the time had come for justice.
The BBC's Kim Ghattas in Beirut says there is a hope here that it will end a long, sad history of unpunished political assassinations.
People are on edge after a series of bomb attacks last week and an ongoing bloody standoff in northern Lebanon between the army and militants from the Fatah al-Islam group, she says.
However, the Security Council was divided on the issue.
The abstaining countries argued that the situation in Lebanon was so fragile that the Security Council should not be imposing the tribunal on the country.
The US, UK and France argued that political assassination should not go unpunished, and that the Lebanese government had asked the Council to act.
'Political killing''Political killing'
There is also an argument about why the court is being set up under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, meaning it could ultimately be enforced by military action, our correspondent adds. There was also an argument about why the court was being set up under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, meaning it could ultimately be enforced by military action.
Chapter VII was used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Chapter VII was used to justify the 2003 invasion of Iraq. However, the US and its allies argued that only Chapter VII resolutions were legally enforceable.
However, the US and its allies argue that only Chapter VII resolutions are legally enforceable, our correspondent says. Following the UN vote, Syria reiterated its stance that the special court violated Lebanese sovereignty and could plunge Lebanon into further instability.
If the resolution is passed, it could take a year for the court itself to start work.
An interim UN investigation found Mr Hariri's killing was "probably" politically motivated and has implicated Syria, but Damascus has denied any involvement in his death.
Syrian President Bashar Assad has said any Syrian suspects would be tried in Syria and he would not release them to a tribunal.Syrian President Bashar Assad has said any Syrian suspects would be tried in Syria and he would not release them to a tribunal.
If Lebanon fails to ratify the proposal, the Security Council may consider independently authorising a tribunal as it did in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. An interim UN investigation found Mr Hariri's killing was "probably" politically motivated and has implicated Syria, but Damascus has denied any involvement in his death.
In 2005, Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon after a presence of 29 years, following massive domestic and international pressure after the assassination of Mr Hariri.