No word on release of Hariri suspects

BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 16 (UPI) -- There is no word on the release of four Lebanese generals detained in connection with the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri, officials said.

Lebanese Justice Minister Ibrahim Najjar said there is no official decision from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on the fate of the four generals amid mounting speculation of their pending release, the Naharnet news service reported Thursday.

Jamil Sayyed, Ali Hajj, Raymond Azar and Mustafa Hamdan are being held for their alleged involvement in the assassination of Hariri and several others in a massive bomb attack in downtown Beirut in 2005.

Daniel Bellemare, the Canadian chief prosecutor for the tribunal, in March requested a change of venue from Lebanon to the Dutch city of Leidschendam, though the examination will proceed under Lebanese law.

Under the procedures outlined by the tribunal, Bellemare was expected to request the transfer of suspects to Leidschendam by the end of April.

Lebanese authorities, however, removed the arrest warrants on the four men last week, adding that a delegation from the tribunal will visit the generals in prison Thursday.

Hezbollah's al-Manar news service reports that the generals will likely be released from prison before Monday, however.