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    July 02, 2011

Hezbollah Rules Out Arrests in Hariri Murder Case

   VOA News
   Lebanese watch Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah
   Photo: AP/Bilal Jawich
   Lebanese watch Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah as he speaks in a
   televised address at a cafe in Beirut, Lebanon, Saturday, July 2, 2011.

   Hezbollah's leader says Lebanese authorities will never be able to
   arrest the four members of his militant group who have been indicted by
   a U. N.-backed tribunal in the murder of a former Lebanese prime
   minister.
   Sheik Hassan Nasrallah said Saturday in a televised address the
   suspects will not be turned in "even in 300 years.'' A high-ranking
   Hezbollah militant and three others were accused in the 2005
   assassination of Rafik Hariri.
   The bombing killed Hariri and 22 other people. A billionaire
   businessman, Hariri was Lebanon's most prominent politician after the
   15-year civil war ended in 1990.
   The Iran-backed militant group has denied any involvement in Mr.
   Hariri's killing and has threatened to "cut off the hand" of anyone who
   tries to arrest its members in the case.
   Nasrallah's televised speech marked his first comments since the
   indictment was announced Thursday.
   Hezbollah dominates the new Lebanese government formed earlier this
   month by Prime Minister Najib Mikati.

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