The prosecutor in a UN court that hopes to try the murderers of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri said he would ask Lebanon to hand over four generals held in connection with the case.
"All that I can tell you is that . . . it (transfer request) will be done," Daniel Bellemare told Al Arabiya television. "I have no reason to believe that Lebanese authorities won't co-operate with us fully.
"They will not be held indefinitely and they will get their day in court," Mr Bellemare said in remarks translated into Arabic by the television.
Lebanese authorities are holding the four generals who were the commanders of Lebanon's pro-Syrian security establishment at the time of Mr Hariri's death in 2005.
The tribunal based in The Hague has 60 days from when the prosecutor takes office to ask Lebanese authorities to hand over people and evidence.
Mr Bellemare, a Canadian, has been leading an investigation into Mr Hariri's killing and will be the court prosecutor.
Mr Hariri and 22 other people were killed by a suicide truck bomb in Beirut that some Lebanese politicians, including his son Saad al-Hariri, have blamed on neighbouring Syria.
Syria denied the allegation but the killing caused a worldwide outcry that forced it to end its military presence in Lebanon after 29 years. Investigators have yet to identify any suspects publicly.
Mr Bellemare has said the opening of the court does not mean legal proceedings will start immediately and investigations will continue.
Reuters