LOC23:32
20:32 GMT
Hezbollah lashes out at parliamentary majority over int'l tribunal BEIRUT, April 8 (KUNA) -- Hezbollah secretary general Hassan Nasrallah lashed out Sunday at the parliamentary majority members and statute of a controversial international tribunal over assassination of ex-prime minister Rafik Hariri.
Nasrallah, at a speech in Beirut's southern suburb, said the statute of the international tribunal, the major sticky point of difference between the opposition and the majority in the parliament, "is written on already published rulings." The majority, known as the March 14th group, is demanding the parliament to discuss the statute, which is rejected by the opposition. Seventy MP from the majority bloc sent a petition to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon last week asking him to adopt alternative measures to establish the tribunal, already approved by the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Nasrallah said the UNSC was not the authorized body to approve the tribunal.
Hezbollah will not present its notes on the statute unless it is discussed "by a legitimate government meeting under chairmanship of President Emile Lahoud and approve it then send it to the parliament to ratify it," he added.
Nasrallah said the dialogue between the opposition and majority leader, MP Saad Hariri, reached a dead end.
"The solution in Lebanon is through a public referendum or holding early parliamentary elections," he said.
He said the opposition was still adopting peaceful and democratic measures to protest against the political situation, citing the open-ended sit-in that has been organized in downtown Beirut since December 1st.
Nasrallah criticized the government of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora and said president Lahoud would stay until the last day of his tenure.
The Hezbollah chief called for the release of four senior officers arrested on suspicion of their involvement in the assassination of Rafik Hariri, and referred to their arrest as "political apprehension." Supporters of the majority and opposition clashed last January killing and injuring scores of people from both sides. (end) an.bs KUNA 082332 Apr 07NNNN