April 7, 2010 - Now Lebanon - STL rejects accusations that it is leaking information

The office of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s (STL) Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare issued a statement on Wednesday rejecting allegations the STL is deliberately leaking information to the media on its investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

This comes after March 8 coalition figures, including Hezbollah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Tawhid Movement leader Wiam Wahhab, accused STL employees of leaking information. Nasrallah told Al-Manar television last week that he holds the tribunal and its office of the prosecutor responsible for the leaks.

“Regretfully, attacks targeting specific individuals appear to be dangerous attempts to manipulate the work of the Tribunal and impede its search for the truth,” the statement also said.

When the STL wishes to share information with the public, it will do so publicly and on the record, the statement added.

According to the statement, “anything reported by persons other than Prosecutor [Bellemare] or his official spokesperson, are mere speculations and should be treated as such. Nobody else is authorized to speak on behalf of the prosecutor’s office.”

The office of the prosecutor added that STL President Antonio Cassese’s annual report calls for the protection of the confidentiality and integrity of the tribunal’s investigation.

-NOW Lebanon