Lebanon’s Hariri attends special trial of father’s killing

BEIRUT – Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri has attended the first day of closing statements in the international trial of the 2005 assassination of his father, former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

The United Nations-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon is trying four members of the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah for their suspected involvement in the murder.

“We want justice, but not revenge,” said Hariri outside the court at the Hague, on Tuesday.

Hezbollah has refused to turn over the four defendants to the tribunal and says it does not recognize the tribunal’s authority. The men are being tried in absentia.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah warned the tribunal and its backers not to “play with fire” in an Aug. 27 address.

A verdict is not expected until the new year.