Lebanon's Hariri: punishment must be served after U.N.-backed tribunal verdict

Lebanon's ex-Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri said on Tuesday he accepted the verdict of a UN-backed tribunal over the 2005 assassination of his father Rafik, but vowed he would not rest until punishment is served.

Hariri said it was time for the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement to assume responsibility after the tribunal convicted one of its members of conspiracy to kill Rafik al-Hariri, who was also a former prime minister.

"Hezbollah is the one that should make sacrifices today," he said. "I repeat: we will not rest until punishment is served."