Muallem Says STL to Accuse Hizbullah, Warns of Sectarian Violence over Indictment

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said the Special Tribunal for Lebanon has been irredeemably "politicized," and warned that accusing Hizbullah of ex-PM Rafik Hariri's murder will plunge Lebanon into a new round of sectarian violence.

Damascus has "received word that members of Hizbullah were soon to be formally charged with the assassination," Muallem said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal from New York.

"We are convinced that a condemnation of the Prosecutor of this court against Hizbullah will be a factor of disturbance in Lebanon," Muallem said.

He said the U.N.'s probe should be replaced by a "purely Lebanese" investigation to ensure fair treatment.