Hariri tribunal blasts media speculation

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the slaying of a former Lebanese prime minister isn't expected to release indictments by the fall, a prosecutor said.

Several Arab media outlets have cited what they say are well-placed sources in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon who believe an indictment on the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri could emerge this fall. London's pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat said an STL ruling was expected as early as October.

Daniel Bellemare, the chief prosecutor at the STL, said in an interview with the English-language Now Lebanon news Web site that media reports were based on speculations.

"Let me state clearly that the indictment has not been drafted yet," he said in the interview. "As I have previously said, I will only file the indictment when I am satisfied that there is enough evidence."

Hariri was killed in a massive bombing in downtown Beirut in 2005. Syria and Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah are believed to have played a role in the assassination. Hassan Nasrallah, the secretary-general of Hezbollah, said in an August news conference that he had evidence to suggest Israel had a role in the slaying.

Bellemare said he wasn't satisfied with the evidence supplied by Hezbollah, however, asking Nasrallah to come forward with the rest of the evidence he mentioned.

"I have to be open-minded and look at everything," he said.