Analysis: U.N.'s Lebanon tribunal draft

UNITED NATIONS, May 18 (UPI) -- The U.N. Security Council Friday began considering a draft resolution to establish an international tribunal to try suspects in a series of political assassinations in Lebanon, beginning in October 2004 and including the massive Beirut bombing that killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others the following year.

The slayings appeared to be of those who were anti-Syria, Lebanon's longtime, dominant neighbor that until recently -- and under a 2004 council resolution -- moved its armed forces and intelligence units out of Lebanon.

The measure was written by Britain, France and the United States and was requested by Beirut, which had been blocked in obtaining ratification by the opposition.

Both the government and the opposition fear another civil war in politically volatile Lebanon, which had barely recovered from the 1974-1990 civil war when it was invaded last summer by Israel pursuing members of the militant Shiite movement Hezbollah.

The government fears civil war if there is no tribunal, while the pro-Syrian opposition fears fighting if there is one.

A U.N. sponsored investigation, still under way, already has found that elements in the security operations of both Lebanon and Syria had to have knowledge of the Hariri assassination operation plans.

The opposition speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, refused to call the legislature into session to approve the legislation necessary to ratify the agreement by the anti-Syrian government of Prime Minister Foaud Siniora and the United Nations in November 2006.

Monday, Siniora wrote U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon requesting the Security Council's help.

"The Security Council, and let me say France, and many countries were expecting very much the Lebanese could find themselves the solution," said Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere of France, speaking of the Beirut deadlock.

"Many countries," he said, had hoped the Lebanese could work it out themselves to support such a tribunal.

"Unfortunately there is a deadlock that the Lebanese were not able to settle the issues," La Sabliere told reporters. "Members of the Security Council are aware we have to face our responsibilities."

Said Paris' envoy, "What we are looking for is to help Lebanon and I would say the draft will unlock what is locked. It is a resolution which will establish a tribunal. It's a very simple resolution."

La Sabliere said, "There is a real commitment from the beginning by the Security Council. The Security Council has to face its responsibility and I am confident it will do it."

He expressed hope it could be adopted before the end of the month.

An informal count shows at least 11 yes votes and no vetoes.

Russia, a longtime ally of Syria, has not threatened a veto and, because there previously was an agreement in the Security Council for a tribunal "of an international character," Moscow can be expected not to vote it down.

The draft measure carries the weight of the U.N. Charter's Chapter VII, authorizing the use of force, making it mandatory and giving it the weight of international law.

It calls for the court to be established in a "timely manner" and sit in a location to be determined in consultations between the United Nations and the government of Lebanon. The draft says if Lebanon cannot afford the tribunal, the U.N. secretary-general may accept contributions for its operation.

Discussion of the draft came up Friday while the panel of 15 members was in closed door consultations on previously scheduled "... other matters."