UN probe of Hariri murder to target suspects' communications

UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - UN chief investigator Serge Brammertz said analysis of communications among the suspects in the murder of a Lebanese ex-premier could shed light on the operation and other attacks on foes of Syria in Lebanon.

He told the Security Council that his panel "understands better the preparatory aspects of the attack (on Rafiq Hariri), notably the activities and locations of the six SIM (cellphone) card holders alleged to have been part of the bombing team."

Hariri was killed in a massive bomb blast that also killed 22 others on the Beirut seafront in February 2005.

Brammertz said that his enquiry team would pursue comparative communication analysis surrounding both the murder and 14 other attacks carried out in Lebanon against opponents of Syria since October 1, 2004.

"The objective is to lift from the vast amount of communications traffic occurring in Beirut during the period of the attacks those numbers common to some of the attacks, and to link other relevant numbers," the Belgian prosecutor added.

He said that the UN team planned over the coming months to conduct roughly "50 key linkage-related interviews, collect and analyze a large amount of already identified electronic data, technical intelligence and documentation."

For that purpose, 39 formal requests of assistance were sent to 12 unspecified UN member states and international organizations, he added.

Brammertz also said his panel "is satisfied with the progress made so far" but needs full support from UN member states on technical, legal and judicial matters relevant to the investigation.

He gave details of the interim report he had released Monday that pointed to fresh evidence that a suicide bomber detonated up to 1.8 tonnes of explosives, placed in a Mitsubishi van, to kill Hariri.

"The DNA analysis conducted on the human remains on the crime scene produced crucial results," he said.

"Several of these remains appears to correspond to the person that allegedly detonated the improvised explosive device: a man in his early 20s. Further forensic tests are taking place to possibly establish the regional origin of the person," he added.

Brammertz also expanded on further evidence of a link between the Hariri slaying and the 14 attacks on opponents of Syria.

The 14 cases, which Lebanese authorities have been probing with UN help, include assassinations and assassination attempts targeting anti-Syrian Lebanese figures, as well as attacks on commercial interests.

"The commission has strengthened its preliminary conclusion that the 14 cases were not commissioned and executed by 14 disparate and unconnected persons or groups with separate motives," Brammertz said.

He added that his commission was examining information suggesting that Hariri "was the subject of earlier surveillance, and possibly earlier attempts to kill him."

"It is likely that the alleged bombing team knew that electronic counter-measures were in place to protect the convoy and Rafiq Hariri, and that they chose a method of attack that would not be impeded by such counter-measures," he added.

He also described the level of Syrian assistance over the past three months as "generally satisfactory".

A report by Brammertz's German predecessor, Detlev Mehlis, had implicated in the attack senior officials from Syria, which for decades was the power broker in its smaller neighbor. Damascus strongly denies any connection with the Hariri slaying.

Syria's UN Ambassador Bashar al-Jafari, meanwhile, told the council Friday that the UN probe under Brammertz was being conducted "in a professional manner" and should be given "time and the necessary resources" to establish the truth without "politicization and false hypotheses."

The 15-member Security Council meanwhile said in a statement that it was "encouraged" by the Brammertz report's conclusion that progress has been made in all areas and reiterated its "unwavering support" for the UN probe.

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