'Indictments detail motives, plan behind Hariri murder'

Tribunal indictments in assassination of former Lebanese PM reportedly contain info on assasins' political motives and how they covered traces.

Rafik Hariri billboards 311 R (photo credit: Ali Hashisho / Reuters)
Rafik Hariri billboards 311 R
(photo credit: Ali Hashisho / Reuters)
The International Criminal Court said indictments filed Thursday over the 2005 assassination of Lebanese statesman Rafik Hariri contained detailed information on the motives and procedures behind the former prime minister's death, London-based Asharq Al-Awsat reported Friday.
The report said the indictments included information on the political motives that lead to the decision to kill Hariri, plans made for the assassination and how it was implemented, and steps that were taken to cover the traces left behind by the assassins.
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"We do not want to create a state of panic and tension in the country as a result of a publication of an international decision over which we have no control," he was quoted as saying.
On Thursday, the long-awaited indictments were hailed as a “historic moment” by Hariri’s son, opposition leader Saad Hariri, who urged the Mikati's government to cooperate with the court in rounding up the suspects – all four of whom are linked to Hezbollah.
Lebanese Prosecutor-General Saeed Mirza did not disclose the contents of the indictments, but they are understood to accuse four Hezbollah members of involvement in the February 14, 2005, bombing in Beirut that killed Hariri and 22 others.