BEIRUT, Lebanon: Deputy leader of Hezbollah Sheikh Naeem Qassem has said Lebanon has started a race against the clock for a settlement to be reached before the release of an indictment into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

In an interview with the Lebanese daily Al-Balad, Qassem warned: “The post-indictment phase is completely different from the pre-indictment phase … All options are conceivable.”

“If we don’t take advantage of the opportunities currently made available to us we will face a new scenario,” he added, without elaborating.

Qassem said Hariri’s son, Prime Minister Saad Hariri has a special responsibility in this regards and knows what is required of him to put an end to accusations against Hezbollah. “Hezbollah is not asking Prime Minister Hariri to talk about this issue but to taken action with the concerned parties.”

Qassem said a meeting between Hariri and Nasrallah could take place “when appropriate, beneficial and essential topics of discussion are found.”