BEIRUT: U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon renewed Wednesday the Special Tribunal for Lebanon’s mandate for three years.The court’s current three-year mandate was set to expire on Feb. 29.

“The secretary-general reaffirms the commitment of the United Nations to the efforts of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to uncover the truth regarding the terrorist attack that took the lives of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others so as to bring those responsible to justice and send a message that impunity will not be tolerated,” a U.N. spokesperson said.

Following the U.N.’s announcement, the Netherlands-based court said on Twitter that the move would allow them to continue their work and that it was “a demonstration of the international support for the tribunal.”

Under Security Council Resolution 1757, which established the court, the secretary-general was given the authority to extend the STL’s mandate after consulting with the Security Council and the Lebanese government.

Earlier this month, Ban sent a letter to President Michel Sleiman soliciting comments on the extension but never received a response.