United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has appointed Dutch lawyer Herman von Hebel as registrar of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The post is seen as a key position in the first international terrorism tribunal, which is located in the Dutch town of Leidschendam, just outside The Hague.

The tribunal investigates the bomb blast that killed Lebanon's former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and 22 others in February 2005. Many in Lebanon blame the killing on Syria and the Shiite Hizbollah movement.

The registrar is responsible for the tribunal's administration, budget and detention facilities as well as its victim participation and witness protection programmes.

“My appointment comes at a very important time for the STL”, said Mr Von Hebel. “The tribunal is moving from a predominantly investigative phase towards judicial proceedings, and during this period the registry will be critical to ensure the smooth running of the court.”
 
The tribunal will issue its first indictment very soon, Mr Von Hebel expects. Twelve cells in Scheveningen prison have been reserved for the tribunal.
 
His appointment has been warmly welcomed by the tribunal.  "Herman von Hebel has served international criminal justice for many years with competence and independence”, said the president of the court, Judge Antonio Cassese. “I am sure that in his position he will continue to show great professionalism and integrity.”

Mr von Hebel was previously the acting registrar for the Special Court for Sierra Leone and a senior legal officer for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

The tribunal, set up by the United Nations in 2007 at the request of Lebanon, currently has 333 staff members from 62 countries.