A high ranking UN diplomat ruled out on Friday the possibility of forming a special international court to try those behind the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. The diplomat told The Daily Star that the current talks in the hallways of the UN "are moving away from the option of establishing an international tribunal" to try the perpetrators, adding that "other options are being discussed."The diplomat said: "If there was going to be an international presence in the trial, I don't think it would be through an international court. I think the talks are heading towards a Lebanese trial with a strong intention to support it by the UN." So far many Lebanese opposition members and officials from Hariri's political party have called for the establishment of a special international court to try the criminals, if caught. The diplomat added the international community "right now feels the need to strengthen and support the Lebanese Judiciary," and an international court would "weaken the credibility of the Lebanese judiciary system." "Two possibilities are being discussed right now; one involves a direct UN presence in the trial, and the other just requires supervision and support by the UN," the diplomat said.
He added: "So far, there have been two examples of such special courts: the court in Sierra Leone, which is a joint national-UN venture; and the second is the trial of Khmer Rouge in Cambodia which took place a while ago, and involved a national court taking care of the trial, but with the UN bringing the support and expertise."