THE HAGUE: The Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) said Friday its appeals chamber will sit on Feb. 7 to mull over charges of terrorism and murder drafted for the 2005 killing of Lebanese ex-premier Rafiq Hariri. A “public hearing will take place on Feb. 7, 2011” to discuss pre-trial judge Daniel Fransen's questions to the appeals chamber about certain criminal definitions in the indictment, said a scheduling order of the court. Fransen is tasked with confirming the charges in the indictment filed under seal by prosecutor Daniel Bellemare Monday, and is allowed to ask the appeals judges questions of a legal nature in the process of doing so. Among other things, Fransen has asked the appeals judges whether international law must be taken into account when defining the crime of terrorism, and whether a person can be tried for premeditated murder for the deaths of bystanders. The hearing, from 0800 GMT to 1600 GMT on Feb. 7, will include submissions by the prosecutor and the tribunal's defense office, created to protect the rights of defendants.Druze leader backs Hezbollah A potential kingmaker in Lebanese politics threw his support Friday behind Hezbollah, a major boost to the militant group that brought down the country's government last week. Walid Jumblatt, the influential leader of the Druze sect, refused to say exactly how many lawmakers are with him, but his support is key ahead of parliamentary talks Monday to pick a new prime minister. The announcement is the latest twist in a politi0.00cal crisis pitting Hezbollah against caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri. Jumblatt's decision portends lengthy negotiations between Hariri's camp and the Hezbollah-led alliance. If those fail, Lebanon could see a resurgence of the street protests and violence that have bedeviled the country in the past.
