国际英语新闻：Hariri tribunal ready to hand down indictments

BEIRUT, April 16 (Xinhua) -- Acting registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) Herman von Hebel said on Friday that the tribunal is ready to hand down indictments in connection with the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Speaking to the local Future TV channel, von Hebel stressed that the tribunal "is ready to do whatever it takes to carry out any indictment issued by (Prosecutor Daniel) Bellemare".

Von Hebel quoted Bellemare as saying that the work of the STL investigation team has seen progress.

He added that the tribunal has developed a witness protection program that would include all those who come forward with information on the assassination, whether they were in Lebanon or abroad.

Von Hebel also commended the Lebanese Shiite armed group Hezbollah for its readiness to cooperate with the STL, adding that all parties are also working with the tribunal.

The UN special tribunal was established on March 1, 2009, to try suspects that planned, facilitated and executed the assassination of Hariri, who was killed along with 22 others in a suicide bombing in Beirut on Feb. 14, 2005.

Hezbollah confirmed last week that STL investigators have summoned 12 of its members and close supporters for questioning in Hariri's assassination probe.

The group's chief Hassan Nasrallah, however, warned of attempts to "politicize" the tribunal.