United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on everyone to respect the verdict of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which sentenced Hassan Habib Meri and Hussein Hassan Oneisi to life imprisonment for the crimes they committed on 14 February 2005.
United Nations Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq said at a daily press conference that Secretary-General Guterres had been briefed on the ruling by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon regarding the 17-year-old attack in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, which resulted in the assassination of the former Prime Minister Lebanese Minister Rafik Hariri and 21 people and wounding 21 people. Another 226 people were injured, citing the independence and impartiality of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.
Farhan Haq expressed his deep gratitude to the organization for the dedication and work of the judges and staff who have been involved in this case for many years.