Syria hints at non-cooperation with Lebanon court

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 25 (Reuters) Syria complained today that it had not been consulted on plans for a special tribunal to try suspects in a string of political killings in Lebanon, and appeared to threaten not to cooperate with it.

Creation of the court without Syria's advice would show that Damascus ''has no connection with this tribunal,'' Syria's U.N. ambassador, Bashar Jaafari, said in a letter to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan circulated today.

The court is meant to try suspects in a wave of apparently politically motivated killings in Lebanon, in particular the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, who was murdered in a Beirut car-bombing after speaking out against Syrian domination of his country.

The United Nations drafted the court plans in consultation with Lebanon's subsequently elected anti-Syrian government after the current prime minister, Fouad Siniora, wrote Annan that his country's judiciary could not handle the Hariri case on its own.

A continuing UN investigation has implicated senior Syrian and Lebanese security officials in the killing although Damascus has denied involvement.

Lebanon's Western-backed government was due to meet tomorrow to Saturday to formally approve the blueprint for the special international court, official sources said yesterday.

Syria does not believe the tribunal should be set up until after the UN investigation has been completed, Jaafari said.

Syria has not been consulted on the plans and has not even been officially given a copy of them, he said.

''Consequently, in the event that the statute of the tribunal is adopted, unacceptable transgressions that undermine the sovereignty of certain member states and the rights of their subjects are likely to transpire,'' Jaafari said, without saying which countries he was referring to.

''Adoption of the statute of the special tribunal in such a manner will firmly establish our belief that Syria has no connection with this tribunal,'' he said without elaboration.

Lebanon's government is deeply divided over the court, with the Cabinet majority in favor of its creation but pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud opposed.

Court backers claimed new urgency this week with the murder of Pierre Gemayel, Lebanon's anti-Syrian industry minister, after he voted to tentatively approve the court blueprint.

Several prominent anti-Syrian leaders blamed Syria for Gemayel's death, although Damascus has denied any role.

They warned that more killings of Cabinet ministers could be in the works, to topple the Siniora government before the court plan could gain formal approval.

Reuters DH VP0115