UN opens inquiry into death of Lebanon's Hariri
AFP
Date: 04-07-05
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - The UN Security Council set up an international inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.
Resolution 1595 follows a UN inquiry mission into a February 14 car-bomb suicide attack that killed Hariri and 19 others and is likely to increase international pressure on Syria, which Lebanon's opposition blames in the attack.
The UN mission found a probe by Lebanon flawed and declared Syria, which has thousands of troops in the country, responsible for political tensions ahead of the attack.
The resolution noted the mission's finding that the Lebanese investigation "has neither the capacity nor the commitment to reach a satisfactory and credible conclusion."
The move came as Syria Thursday began the final phase of a troop pullout ending a 29-year military presence in Lebanon. Syria's information minister, Mahdi Dakhlallah, vowed that the pullout would be completed before an April 30 deadline.
The three-month UN investigation will be based in Lebanon.
Diplomatic sources said it could take several weeks to get police and some 15 teams of legal experts -- about 100 people in all -- in place.
Each team has its own interpreter and security.
The resolution called on Lebanon to provide full cooperation to the commission including free access to witnesses, documents and physical evidence. Beirut has said it will work with the commission.
It also called on all states -- without naming any -- to provide any relevant information about the attack.
The resolution, with the United States, Britain and France as lead sponsors, was adopted unanimously. Five other countries signed on as co-sponsors ahead of the vote.
Syria retains a strong influence over Lebanese affairs but has said it will withdraw its troops from Lebanon, where legislative elections are to be held in May.
Among other charges, the initial UN report, carried out by top Irish police official Peter Fitzgerald, said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had threatened physical harm against Hariri over his opposition to Damascus, and called for an international investigation.
"We were troubled by the issues that were raised in the Fitzgerald report, and we want to get to the bottom of this assassination and what we believe to be a terrorist act," US diplomat Stuart Holliday said.
"We are pleased that the resolution calls upon all states to look into the facts of this unfortunate episode. We welcome the Lebanese government's assurance in its letter of the 29th of March to cooperate with the investigation, and we'll be following the investigation."
"It is very important that the facts are known," he added.
French UN ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said: "I am very glad that the resolution was adopted by consensus today."
A member of Hariri's political bloc in the Lebanese parliament, opposition lawmaker Ghinwa Jalloul told AFP in Beirut she also welcomed the UN move.
"It is a big achievement. This was one of the principal and core demands of the opposition," Jalloul said.
"We congratulate all the Lebanese people, we hail the United Nations and all the countries that voted for this resolution," Jalloul said.
"We welcome the resolution if the inquiry committee is given all executive, investigative and judiciary prerogatives to uncover the whole truth about the crime, and uncovers its perpetrators and organizers."
"We hope the inquiry committee will be formed as soon as possible," she added.
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