Hariri's Bellmare to issue an indictment between and September and December

Interesting though to hear Cassese say that the Hariri carnival has not been politicized "since 2007.." Post-Mehlis era!

From the ever watchful eye of Michael Young at the The DailyStar ...

"... Cassese added that he did not have any information about the potential culprits or the details of Bellemare’s probe. “I have no idea, because we are very strict (huh?) … The prosecutor does not tell anything [about the investigation] to anybody within the tribunal,” Cassese said. Bellemare’s office did not respond to a request for comment....

At the same time, Cassese believes the tribunal will struggle to find enough donations for its budget next year, because the added costs of a trial would run into state budgets shrunken by the economic crisis afflicting the Western nations bankrolling the court. Lebanon pays 49 percent of the tribunal’s annual budget, which for 2010 amounts to $55.35 million. ..... “The problem will be next year, because if next year – as I very much hope – we have a trial, then we will have to recruit staff.”

Critics have assailed the tribunal as a political tool for the US and its allies to pressure Damascus and Hizbullah. ..... Since the UN voted in May 2007 to form the court, “the whole process has never been political or politicized,” said Cassese, .... The tribunal has also battled negative perceptions over the exodus of key personnel...."