Ban on Dahiyeh Incident: Acts of Interference, Intimidation are Unacceptable

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has voiced his deep concerns over the "recent statements and events related to the work of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon."

Ban condemned Wednesday's attack on U.N. investigators at a gynecology clinic in Beirut Southern Suburbs, a Hizbullah stronghold, stressing that "such acts of interference and intimidation are unacceptable."

"The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is an independent court of law established at the request of the Government of Lebanon, with a clear mandate from the United Nations Security Council," said the U.N. chief in a statement.

"It is an important tool to uncover the truth and end impunity."

Ban called on all parties to "refrain from interfering in its work, which proceeds in accordance with the legal principles and standards applied by all international tribunals, and from prejudging its outcome."

The secretary-general stressed that it is imperative that the Special Tribunal carry out its work "safely and securely."

On the other hand, he commended the Lebanese authorities for their "swift action in opening an inquiry into the incident."

On Wednesday, two investigators from the STL were attacked by a group of angry women at a clinic in Dahiyeh.

The investigators had requested information on patients from the clinic's head doctor and were leaving when about 30 women charged at the pair and snatched a briefcase from them.