UNITED NATIONS, 11 June 2006 — The UN panel probing the assassination of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri reported “considerable progress” yesterday in its investigation of the circumstances surrounding the murder.
In its latest report, the panel — led by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz — also noted greater cooperation from Syria, which is widely believed to have been involved in the killing, despite strenuous denials from Damascus.
“Cooperation with Syria has further developed,” said the report, which Brammertz presented to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
It specifically noted meetings the inquiry commission had with the Syrian president and vice president, as well as other requests for information and documents that were met in a “timely and generally satisfactory” manner.
Overall, the report concluded that “considerable progress has been achieved” in the investigation, with the commission close to completing its work relating to the crime scene, the convoy carrying Hariri and other events on the day.
Hariri was killed in a massive bomb blast that also killed 22 others on the Beirut seafront in February 2005.
Brammertz is to brief the Security Council on his report Wednesday, a day before the six-month mandate of his commission expires.
Lebanon has asked for a 12-month extension of the mandate — a move welcomed by the commission as offering a “much needed sense of continuity and stability.”
