Hague court fines Lebanese journalist

The UN-backed tribunal into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Monday fined the manager of a local Lebanese television station for not removing online videos containing information about the identities of confidential witnesses.

The Hague-based court ruled 10 days ago that the deputy director of Al-Jadeed TV, Karma Khayat, had failed to obey a court order to remove the footage from both the television channel's website and YouTube.

The video interviews were said to expose five witnesses in the court case against suspects in the 2005 bomb blast that killed Hariri.

Judge Nicola Lettieri said on Monday that Khayat would have to pay 10,000 euros ($11,195) before the end of October. Khayat had been, he said, "at least willfully blind to the (court) order."

Jail term requested

Despite the sentence, Khayat's defense lawyer said his client had been vindicated, with the more serious charges against her - that of exposing the witnesses - having been dropped. The prosecution had nonetheless asked for the journalist to be jailed for one year.

Khayat has described the proceedings as an attack on the freedom of the press, but told the Associated Press news agency that she was "happy" with the outcome. She maintained that it had been unfair for the court to fine her.

The court is specifically trying suspects charged with the murder of Hariri, who was killed along with 22 others - including the suicide bomber who carried out the massive car bombing on the Beirut waterfront - on February 14, 2005.

Five Hezbollah members were charged with the killings in 2011 but have not been arrested, and are being tried in absentia. Hezbollah has denied complicity and has condemned the court as a conspiracy by the US and Israel.

rc/kms (AP, AFP, Reuters)