UN chief discusses int'l tribunal on Hariri murder with Syria

Visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said here on Tuesday that he discussed with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad the international tribunal to try suspects involved in the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.

Ban told a press conference after his talks with Assad that he discussed "the special tribunal at length with the president" and request Syria to exert influence in order to have the Lebanese people to reach an agreement in this regard.

Ban said Assad responded that "this is an issue purely the Lebanese people should decide with consensus opinion."

"However, he said at the same time he would use his efforts to encourage the Lebanese people to arrive at national consensus," added Ban.

Rival parties' leaders in Lebanon have been in disagreement over the formation of the tribunal, which is the worse political split in the country since its 1975-1990 civil war.

The UN chief, meanwhile, implied that the United Nations might take a decision on its own if pro- and anti-Syrian factions in Beirut cannot reach an agreement in this regard.

"If they are not able to agree on that, this is something the United Nations, particularly the Security Council, will have to consider," Ban said, adding "I'm not in a position to say something other than that."

Syria has been accused of implication in Hariri's killing, an allegation it strongly denied, and insists to try any Syrians at home if they were involved.

The Syrian government has also objected the move to set up the tribunal before a UN commission ended its inquiry into the killing.

The UN chief said he also discussed with Assad the illegal movements of arms into Lebanon while urging Syria to establish diplomatic relations and reach a border agreement with Lebanon.

Ban, on his first official visit to Syria since he took office as the UN chief, arrived here earlier in the day.

The Damascus tour is the last leg of Ban's four-nation swing that has earlier taken him to Italy, Switzerland and Qatar.

Source: Xinhua