France proposes UN resolution to expand Hariri probe News
France proposes UN resolution to expand Hariri probe

[JURIST] The UN Security Council [official website] is considering a proposed resolution, offered by France at the request of Lebanon, that would widen the scope of the UN probe [UN materials] into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri [JURIST news archive] to include other politically motivated killings that have occurred in Lebanon during the past year. The resolution, which would also extend the mandate of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission for another six months, was circulated to the Security Council late Tuesday, a day after the commission's chief investigator, German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, submitted a report [JURIST report; UN News report] that cited additional evidence of Syrian involvement in the Hariri murder. Mehlis' interim report [text] implicated both Syrian and Lebanese security officials. During Tuesday's meeting [UN meeting summary], Lebanon asked that an international tribunal be established to try suspects charged in the Hariri assassination. Also Tuesday, Syria's UN Ambassador Feyssal Mekdad said that Syria is fully cooperating with the UN probe, despite criticism to the contrary. AP has more. The UN News Centre provides additional coverage.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.