Bush freezes assets of Hariri assassination suspects

The president said in an executive order that the freeze would apply to the assets of all those "involved in planning, sponsoring, organizing, or perpetrating the terrorist act in Beirut, Lebanon, on February 14, 2005, that are related to Hariri's assassination."

Bush wrote that the freeze is intended to aid the government of Lebanon "in identifying and holding accountable in accordance with applicable law" anyone connected to the crime.

The communique did not mention any individuals by name, but cited a United Nations report from October determining that there is "converging evidence" pointing to "both Lebanese and Syrian involvement in terrorist acts."

The president's order further noted that individuals interviewed in the case had tried to impede the investigation "by giving false or inaccurate statements," and said a "senior official of Syria" had given false statements to the UN commission leading the probe.

Officials in Lebanon said there was no immediate reaction to Washington's action.

"The cabinet has not yet been informed of this decision and has not examined it," Lebanese Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said.

"It is a decision taken by the American administration. We will discuss it among ourselves and adopt a common cabinet position if necessary."

Two reports by the UN commission of inquiry have implicated senior Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies in Hariri's murder in a massive bomb blast on the Beirut seafront on February 14 last year, which also killed another 22 victims.

An administration official said that the US order, signed by Bush late Tuesday, "allows the US to implement sanctions against any suspect identified by the UN in its investigation of the Hariri assassination.

"It does not block property immediately," he said, "meaning that the individuals targeted in the assets freeze have yet to be determined."

"But it allows the administration to implement (UN) Resolution 1636, calling all states to freeze the assets of those involved" in the killing.

"It's an important tool in establishing the criteria for the Secretary of Treasury to impose sanctions after consultation with the Secretary of State," the US official said.

"It underlines our determination to hold to account those who are responsible for the murder, to end Syrian interference in Lebanon and to support the people of Lebanon."

The UN has criticized the Syrian government for failing to cooperate more with the probe and its investigators have long sought interviews with top regime officials.

Meanwhile, top UN investigator Serge Brammertz, who succeeded Detlev Mehlis as chief of the UN inquiry panel, met Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Tuesday over the murder of Hariri.

It was the first time that the UN investigators met Assad, who had confirmed last month that he had agreed to receive them but insisted it would be a "meeting and not an interrogation."

Syria, which had been the main powerbroker in Lebanon for years before it pulled out its troops following Hariri's murder, has strongly denied any involvement in the killing and has accused the United Nations of bias.

Lebanon on Wednesday marked the first anniversary of Syria's withdrawal of its troops after a 29-year military presence, although the regime in Damascus continues to wield considerable power over its smaller neighbour.

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