Lebanese PM Siniora takes fateful step of okaying international tribunal to try suspects of Rafiq Hariri assassination
Ass. Secy of State for Near East David Welch is due in Beirut for a surprise visit to underline American backing for Fouad Siniora’s government.
Syrian president Bashar Assad has fought the international court’s establishment with dire threats for fear that close family members and high Syrian officials will be called to accord for their suspected implication in the murder of Lebanon’s ex-prime minister Hariri in 2005 with 22 others, and related crimes.