Bellemare to Present Indictment Current Month, Lebanon Will Not be Priority in UNSC This Month

An informed-Western source told As-Safir newspaper that the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare would issue his indictment this month and refer it to the pre-trial Judge Daniel Fransen although it would remain confidential until its adoption by the pre-trial judge.

On its part, an informed source at the U.N. told the daily that the announcement of the indictment should be preceded by several steps including the possibility of moving witnesses outside Lebanon to guarantee their safety. Therefore, the source said these procedures might delay the actual the beginning of the trial till end of 2011.

The source noted that Bellemare referring the indictment to Fransen does not mean that the investigation is over, it will actually remain ongoing in light of any new information that might surface after handing in the indictment.

The source confirmed that U.N. officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, were concerned that internal pressure could prevent the Lebanese government from responding to the indictment's request to arrest the suspects, particularly those whose names will be included in the indictment. 

The source also expected that Lebanon will not be the major issue of the UNSC in this month (January), noting that the focus now is on the Sudanese file and what will follow the elections from repercussions on the South (Next Sunday). 

On a related note, French Foreign Minister Michèle Alliot-Marie said that the most important thing is to preserve the unity of the Lebanese people, adding "Prime Minister Saad Hariri is keen on preserving Lebanese unity."

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) cannot be abolished, she said, adding that its upcoming indictment will not target a party or a particular sect, but individuals.