BEIRUT: Lebanon's political leaders renewed discussions on Monday over the United Nations investigation into the killing of Rafik Hariri, following talks between Syria and Saudi Arabia over how to avert all-out civil conflict. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad met with Saudi King Abdullah in the latest demonstration of improving ties between two regional powers with a sour past. Although no official statement from the meeting was released, it is thought the two leaders discussed ways of reducing Lebanese domestic tension derived from the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL). United States Assistant Secretary for Near East Affairs Jeffrey Feltman, during a short visit to Beirut Sunday afternoon, confirmed Washington's support for the beleaguered court. “We believe that the tribunal should be allowed to complete its work on its own timeline and without outside interference until those responsible…are brought to justice,” Feltman told reporters at Beirut's airport. “I think all of us who represent Security Council countries also understand that the work of the tribunal at this point will not be stopped.” A statement released by Hizbullah's press office Monday confirmed that party head Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah had held talks with Druze leaver Walid Jumblatt to “continue joint efforts between the two parties at all levels.” Jumblatt has long been seen as a broker between warring Lebanese factions and is known to be a mediator between Nasrallah and Prime Minister Saad Hariri, who differ wildly on their hopes for the STL. It remains unclear over whether or not the UN investigation will be allowed to run its course to find the killers of five-time premier Hariri, who was assassinated by a car bomb in 2005. There are fears that anticipated indictment of Hizbullah members would prompt a fresh wave of civil violence, undermining Lebanon's fragile national consensus government.
