Hariri tribunal gets new prosecutor

• Tweet

UNITED NATIONS, March 1 (UPI) -- Appointing a prosecutor to a tribunal set up to try those accused of slaying a Lebanese leader is a sign of a commitment to justice, a U.N. official said.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced the appointment of Canadian prosecutor Norman Farrell to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and Uganda's Daniel David Ntanda Nsereko as an international judge for the tribunal appeals chamber.

"In announcing these appointments, the secretary-general once again reiterates the commitment of the United Nations to the efforts of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to uncover the truth regarding the terrorist attack that took the lives of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others, as well as other connected attacks, so as to bring those responsible to justice and send a message that impunity will not be tolerated," a statement issued through Ban's spokesman said.

Farrell replaces Daniel Bellemare, who announced in December he was stepping down due to health issues.

Four members of Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah are accused of having a role in the 2005 assassination. Tribunal judges had said they'd move forward with a trial regardless of whether the suspects were in custody.

Hezbollah says the tribunal has only circumstantial evidence to support its claims.