Der Spiegel defends Hezbollah report

LONDON, May 27 (UPI) -- The journalist for Der Spiegel who uncovered evidence suggesting Hezbollah was linked to the assassination of Rafik Hariri stands by his reporting.

Erich Follath wrote for Der Spiegel that information obtained from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the U.N.-backed body tasked with examining the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, shows Hezbollah was involved in the plot.

Follath reports that cell phone records link Hezbollah operatives to the planning of the February 2005 operation, which killed several others in a massive suicide bombing in downtown Beirut.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah issued a public statement on the Der Spiegel report, saying it was "fabricated" in an attempt to "create sedition and conflict between the Sunnis and the Shiites, mainly Hezbollah."

But in an interview with London's Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Follath stood by his account, saying it was well vetted.

"I verified every word before publishing the report," he said.

Hezbollah claims the Der Spiegel report is meant to undermine the Shiite group's political influence as its opposition March 8 coalition is expected to barely take the majority over the pro-Western March 14 coalition.