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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
LEBANON: UN Hariri Investigation makes some progress
NEW YORK, 29 Sep 2006 (IRIN) - Belgian Prosecutor Serge Brammertz told United Nations Security Council members on Friday that his team has reached a number of preliminary conclusions relating to the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, including evidence that a suicide bomber detonated the bomb that killed Hariri and 22 others.
A tooth was found last May at the scene of the crime in Beirut, according to the report, which was released on Monday. “If we are able to identify who was this person detonating the improvisational explosive device…we have made an important step,” said Brammertz, who spoke with reporters after briefing the council.
Brammertz indicated that when DNA analysis determines the national origin of the man in his early 20’s whose tooth was found at the crime scene, the information could shed light on those who were behind the attack and the motive for the killing.
The report notes that there are several different potential motivations for the crime, which could lead to the perpetrators, but indicated that there could be more theories to consider. The motives will be the focus of the next report, due to be released in December.
Brammertz revealed that his team will conduct a considerable number of interviews in order to examine any links to 14 other cases that occurred in Lebanon around the time of the Hariri murder.
“The commission anticipates that further links between the cases will become evident upon further collection of information and evidence,” Brammertz told council members.
UN Security Council resolution 1686 gave Brammertz an expanded mandate to provide technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities on 14 cases that go as far back as October 2004, with seemingly similar links to the Hariri murder in February 2005. In addition to the eight bombings that occurred in and around Beirut, there were four assassinations of Lebanese politicians and journalists, as well as three attempted assassinations of two ministers, and a journalist, May Chidiac.
Brammertz again requested the assistance of UN member states in the ongoing investigation before the mandate expires in June 2007. He asked for assistance from 12 countries, especially in relation to telecommunications, and continues to request international help for competent personnel who can assist his team before the mandate runs out.
In a number of previous reports to the UN Security Council, Brammertz and his predecessor, Detlev Mehlis, indicated a lack of Syrian cooperation in the investigation.
Brammertz told council members that Syria had responded, “timely and efficient[ly],” to 11 requests made by his staff. “The level of assistance provided by Syria during the reporting period remains generally satisfactory,” he said.
“I would like to stress again Syria’s cooperation in the investigation because it is keen to discover the truth in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri and discover who is behind [his killing],” Syrian Ambassador to the UN Bashar al-Jafari told reporters.
US Ambassador John Bolton remained unimpressed by Syria’s actions, telling reporters that Syria’s “long history of obstructionism and lack of cooperation shows that some problems still remain.”
LAB/MD
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This material comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. All materials copyright © UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2006
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