Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit today rejected interference in the international tribunal charged with investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri. During talks with his Lebanese counterpart Boutros Harb, Abul Gheit said permitting the tribunal to do its work independently is a guarantee for Lebanese stability. Spokesperson for the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Hossam Zaki, said in a statement to the press today that Abul Gheit and Harb have examined the latest developments in Lebanon and the best avenues to achieve stability in the country. Harb said, according to Zaki, that his country is counting on Egypt to prevent Lebanon from molding into a battleground for regional and international confrontations, or a negotiating card in the hands of regional players. Egypt can also work to ensure Lebanon's current regime is not undermined, according to Harb's statements. Hezbollah fears the international tribunal will issue indictments against it. Different political groups have warned of sectarian tensions in such a scenario. Hezbollah has cast suspicions over the impartiality of the tribunal, saying it is “politicized” and describing it as “an American and Israeli tool.” However, Lebanon's parliamentary majority, led by Prime Minister Saad Hariri, insists on continuing the tribunal's work. Following Hariri's assassination in 2005, accusing fingers pointed toward Syria, which had to withdraw its troops from Lebanon due to international pressure. Syria has consistently denied involvement in Hariri's assassination.
