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Former Lebanese leader Rafik Hariri was a marked man, tribunal hears Former Lebanese leader Rafik Hariri was a marked man, tribunal hears
(35 minutes later)
Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri was a marked man from the moment he stepped down as leader in late 2004 – with his assassins watching nearly his every move until they killed him on 14 February 2005, the International Tribunal into his death has heard. Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri was a marked man from the moment he stepped down as leader in late 2004 – with assassins watching almost his every move until they killed him on 14 February 2005, the international tribunal into his death has heard.
Nearly nine years after Hariri's death in a massive explosion in central Beirut, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, jointly funded by the state and the United Nations, began long-awaited hearings in a city synonymous with many of modern history's most infamous trials, The Hague.Nearly nine years after Hariri's death in a massive explosion in central Beirut, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, jointly funded by the state and the United Nations, began long-awaited hearings in a city synonymous with many of modern history's most infamous trials, The Hague.
The first day of evidence, in what is expected to be at least 15 months of hearings, was as significant for what it didn't say as what prosecutors disclosed. The first day of evidence, in what is expected to be at least 15 months of hearings, was as significant for what it did not say as what prosecutors disclosed.
Over the last two years, much has been made in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East of the four accused being members of the powerful militia Hezbollah, which holds significant sway in Lebanese affairs and, increasingly, beyond the fragile state's borders. Over the last two years, much has been made in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East of the four accused being members of Hezbollah, the Shia militia which holds significant sway in Lebanese affairs and, increasingly, beyond the fragile state's borders.
In six hours of opening remarks, though, three prosecutors laid out the case against the men – Moustafa Badredine, Salim Ayyash, Hussein Onnesi and Assad Sabra – without making any mention of their alleged affiliation. Nor was there discussion of the highly charged political atmosphere surrounding the assassination, the effects of which are still reverberating, with Syria and Iraq ravaged by insurrection and Lebanon crippled by chaos. In six hours of opening remarks, though, three prosecutors laid out the case against the men – Mustafa Badreddine, Salim Ayyash, Hussein Oneissi and Assad Sabra – without making any mention of their alleged affiliation. Nor was there discussion of the highly charged political atmosphere around the assassination, the effects of which are still being felt, with Syria and Iraq ravaged by insurrection and Lebanon crippled by chaos.
Ahead of the trial, the Tribunal indicated it would avoid the Machiavellian political backdrop that guided Lebanese affairs early last decade, and continues to cloud developments now. Ahead of the trial, the tribunal indicated it would avoid the Machiavellian political backdrop that guided Lebanese affairs early last decade, and continues to cloud developments now.
Using methodically compiled call records from the six months leading up to the assassination, the prosecution alleged that the accused had started monitoring Hariri from the day he quit as prime minister on 20 October 2004. They alleged the group had staked out the former leader, using at least three dedicated networks of mobile phones as they plotted his execution.Using methodically compiled call records from the six months leading up to the assassination, the prosecution alleged that the accused had started monitoring Hariri from the day he quit as prime minister on 20 October 2004. They alleged the group had staked out the former leader, using at least three dedicated networks of mobile phones as they plotted his execution.
Hariri had resigned as a dispute festered over an extension of the term of the-then Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud, a patron of the Syrian regime which its leader, Bashar al-Assad, wanted renewed. Hariri had resigned as a dispute festered over an extension of the term of the-then Lebanese president, Emile Lahoud who was backed by Syria. Bashar al-Assad, Syria's president, wanted Lahoud to stay in the post.
In the lead-up to his resignation, Hariri had an increasingly tense relationship with Assad, whom he claimed had been angered by his attempts to remove Lebanon from beneath the tutelage of Syria, which had played an overlord role in the country since the darkest days of the civil war. In September 2004, one month before he resigned, he had supported a UN resolution calling for Syria to withdraw "all its remaining forces from Lebanon". In the run-up to his resignation, Hariri had an increasingly tense relationship with Assad, whom he claimed had been angered by his attempts to remove Lebanon from the influence of Syria, which had played a dominant role in the country since the darkest days of the civil war. In September 2004, one month before he resigned, he had supported a UN resolution calling for Syria to withdraw "all its remaining forces from Lebanon".
Outside the court, tribunal officials said no case would be made against a state or a group. Instead, prosecutors would focus on the four individuals, none of whom are present – the first time since the Nuremberg trials that defendants in The Hague have been tried in absentia. Outside the court, tribunal officials said no case would be made against a state or a group. Instead, prosecutors would focus on the four individuals, none of whom were present– the first time that defendants in The Hague have been tried in absentia.
Co-prosecutor Graeme Cameron said that despite a highly disciplined attempt to avoid detection, the men had "left numerous pieces of reinforcing evidence that they could not erase".Co-prosecutor Graeme Cameron said that despite a highly disciplined attempt to avoid detection, the men had "left numerous pieces of reinforcing evidence that they could not erase".
He said the four networks of phones used to plot the assassination, dubbed green, blue, red and purple, could be linked to the accused using a series of other corroborating data that either placed them at the scene of various calls or established them as users of the phones.He said the four networks of phones used to plot the assassination, dubbed green, blue, red and purple, could be linked to the accused using a series of other corroborating data that either placed them at the scene of various calls or established them as users of the phones.
Saad Hariri, the son of the late leader, who was prime minister from 2009-11, said he was "seeking justice, not revenge, punishment and not vengeance".Saad Hariri, the son of the late leader, who was prime minister from 2009-11, said he was "seeking justice, not revenge, punishment and not vengeance".
Standing in a bitter rain outside the court alongside key aides from his political bloc, the younger Hariri, who has remained in exile since being ousted in a political push led by Hezbollah three years ago, said: "We were certainly appalled to have a Lebanese group accused in this crime, based on evidence and extensive investigations". Standing in a bitter rain outside the court alongside key aides from his political bloc, the younger Hariri, who has remained in exile since being ousted in a political push led by Hezbollah three years ago, said: "We were certainly appalled to have a Lebanese group accused in this crime, based on evidence and extensive investigations.
"We never thought that there would be, in the ranks of the Lebanese, people who could sell themselves to the devil. This truth is painful. The assassination crime of premier Rafik Hariri and his companions, and the political assassinations which Lebanon witnessed, have … sabotaged national life in our country."We never thought that there would be, in the ranks of the Lebanese, people who could sell themselves to the devil. This truth is painful. The assassination crime of premier Rafik Hariri and his companions, and the political assassinations which Lebanon witnessed, have … sabotaged national life in our country.
"Starting today, the eyes and the sentiments of the Lebanese people are drawn to the work of this tribunal which opened the first page of true justice, and laid the required cornerstone to fight political assassination and organised crime in Lebanon and the Arab world.""Starting today, the eyes and the sentiments of the Lebanese people are drawn to the work of this tribunal which opened the first page of true justice, and laid the required cornerstone to fight political assassination and organised crime in Lebanon and the Arab world."
Victims of the blast, in which 21 other people were killed, were present at the trial, as were several others injured in a series of subsequent bombings. Among them, was the veteran Lebanese journalist Maya Chidiac, who lost part of a leg and arm when her car was targeted by a bomb.Victims of the blast, in which 21 other people were killed, were present at the trial, as were several others injured in a series of subsequent bombings. Among them, was the veteran Lebanese journalist Maya Chidiac, who lost part of a leg and arm when her car was targeted by a bomb.
Some wept as a series of videos shot in the immediate aftermath of the bombing were played to the court. The force of the explosion was so large, it was recorded by seismic equipment 37 miles (60km) away, the court was told.Some wept as a series of videos shot in the immediate aftermath of the bombing were played to the court. The force of the explosion was so large, it was recorded by seismic equipment 37 miles (60km) away, the court was told.
Data records that showed where each phone used in the alleged plot was situated throughout the last weeks of 2004 and early weeks of 2005 showed that their location often matched the precise whereabouts of Hariri, who moved regularly during that time from his residence in west Beirut to a second home in Faqra, the foothills above the capital. His only other regular movements were to the area near the parliament in central Beirut, or to the airport. When he moved to either place, the alleged conspirators' mobile phones were registered as having locked on to nearby mobile masts.Data records that showed where each phone used in the alleged plot was situated throughout the last weeks of 2004 and early weeks of 2005 showed that their location often matched the precise whereabouts of Hariri, who moved regularly during that time from his residence in west Beirut to a second home in Faqra, the foothills above the capital. His only other regular movements were to the area near the parliament in central Beirut, or to the airport. When he moved to either place, the alleged conspirators' mobile phones were registered as having locked on to nearby mobile masts.
The prosecution's case appears to centre on electronic fingerprints left by phones, and is not expected to draw heavily on witnesses.The prosecution's case appears to centre on electronic fingerprints left by phones, and is not expected to draw heavily on witnesses.
The Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has refused to hand over the accused men, all of whom are believed to remain under the protection of the group in Lebanon. Nasrallah has alleged that Israeli intelligence agents manipulated the data records in an attempt to damage Hezbollah. He has vehemently denied that the organisation played any role in the attack.The Hezbollah leader, Hassan Nasrallah, has refused to hand over the accused men, all of whom are believed to remain under the protection of the group in Lebanon. Nasrallah has alleged that Israeli intelligence agents manipulated the data records in an attempt to damage Hezbollah. He has vehemently denied that the organisation played any role in the attack.
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