A U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has issued indictments and arrest warrants for four suspects in the case.
The joint international and Lebanese court in The Hague submitted the documents to Lebanese prosecutor general Saeed Mirza on Thursday, without disclosing the names of those charged.
Lebanese officials told Western news agencies that at least two of the four individuals are members of the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group.
Hezbollah dominates the new Lebanese government formed earlier this month by Prime Minister Najib Mikati. The group's Al-Manar television station responded to the indictments by dismissing the tribunal as “politicized.”
Hezbollah has denied any involvement in Hariri's killing and has threatened to “cut off the hand” of anyone who tries to arrest its members in the case.
Rafik Hariri's son, Saad Hariri, also a former prime minister, says the arrest warrants represent a “historic moment” for Lebanon. He urged Mr. Mikati's government to cooperate with the tribunal.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he also expects Beirut to cooperate with the tribunal and called on all states to support its work.
U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the indictments are an “important step toward justice and ending impunity for political assassinations” in Lebanon. He urged Lebanon to take action on them.
Mr. Mikati's Cabinet issued a statement saying it is committed to finding the truth behind the Hariri assassination and will monitor the tribunal's progress, while trying to prevent threats to Lebanon's stability.
If the Lebanese government does not arrest the suspects within 30 days, the tribunal can order the indictments to be published in local media.
Lebanon's president appointed Mr. Mikati as prime minister in January, replacing Saad Hariri, whose unity government collapsed that month when Hezbollah quit in protest at the tribunal's investigation.
Mr. Mikati formed his coalition government on June 13 after months of negotiations. Hezbollah and its allies hold a majority of seats in the 30-member Cabinet.
