Hezbollah rejects link to Hariri assassination

Agence France-Presse

"This is a pure fabrication aimed at influencing the election campaign and to deflect attention from the news about the dismantling of spy networks working for Israel," a statement from the Shiite militant group said.

Germany's Der Spiegel reported on Saturday that the U.N. commission probing the Hariri murder had new evidence that Hezbollah Special Forces "planned and executed" the Beirut car bombing on Feb. 14, 2005. The attack killed the billionaire former premier and 22 other people.

The claims come ahead of a June 7 election in Lebanon that pits the U.S.-backed majority against an alliance headed by Hezbollah, which has the support of Syria and Iran. Since January, Lebanon has charged a total of 18 people with spying for Israel.