Lebanon Tribunal Staffing Update

We noted earlier that the current Chief Prosecutor of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Canadian Daniel Bellemare, was stepping down at the end of his term.  It has just been reported that Canadian Norman Farrell (left) is his likely replacement.  It has been reported that Farrell's was the choice of the late Antonio Cassese, former President of the Tribunal, who grew frustrated with the pace of indictments before the Tribunal under Bellemare's watch.  Farrell would come to the STL from the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia where he is deputy prosecutor;  he also worked at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Committee of the Red Cross.  Ultimately, the U.N. Secretary-General will confirm the appointment.  Daniel David Ntanda Nsereko will replace Judge Cassese.  The STL's mandate has been extended for three more years and in absentia proceedings are expected to commence soon.