DAMASCUS, 25 October 2005 — Thousands of Syrians yesterday protested in the country’s two biggest governorates, the capital Damascus and northern Aleppo, against a UN report implicating the country in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut in February.
Carrying banners denouncing the finding of German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis and chanting anti-US slogans, the demonstrators said the inquiry unfairly blamed Damascus for the murder of Hariri on US instigation.
“This report is full of fabrications and allegations with the view of harming Syria. It is part of a plot to pile pressure on our country in a bid to force it make huge concessions to Israel and bless the US occupation of neighboring Iraq,” said Ramadan Ramadan, a political analyst who took part in the demonstration in Damascus.
The two massive demonstrations, broadcast live on Syrian TV and radio stations, were organized by the National Progressive Front, the highest political body in the country grouping eight parties headed by the ruling Baath Party. Other governmental bodies, opposition groups, and non-governmental organizations also took part in the protests.
“Down with the United States, we do not fear you Bush,” a group of young protesters chanted while proceeding to the gathering point of the Damascus rally opposite the Government House at the Sabe’ Bahrat Square in the Syrian capital.
“We love you Bashar, long live Syria,” read a huge banner carried by two women in the Aleppo demonstration. “We are not convinced by the contents of your report Detlev Mehlis, which no wise judge in any respected court in the world will buy it,” chanted a young veiled woman who was carried by her comrades on their shoulders.
At the United Nations, the United States demanded immediate cooperation from Syria with the UN investigation and said: “No more obstruction.” “This is true confession time now for the government of Syria,” US Ambassador John Bolton told reporters. “No more obstruction. No more half-measures. We want substantive cooperation, and we want it immediately.”
Security Council ambassadors are scheduled to meet to discuss the report today but no date has been set for a ministerial-level session wanted by the United States and Britain.
The two countries are also contemplating sanctions against Damascus but diplomats said such measures were not yet formulated. The envoys, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the bans might involve measures against people referred to in the report, such as a travel ban and assets freeze.
The first aim appeared to be insisting on Syria’s cooperation with the investigation, which has been extended until Dec. 15.
Bolton said no resolution on this would be introduced at today’s meeting but he said, “We will certainly insist on Syrian cooperation.”
French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said France wanted to await full conclusions from the UN investigation before deciding whether to support sanctions against Syria.
Lebanon’s central bank said yesterday it had lifted its traditional banking secrecy and frozen five accounts under investigation in the case.
Gov, Riad Salameh said in Beirut that the central bank had provided information on a total of 15 accounts to UN investigators, but was legally prohibited from publicly identifying the account-holders.
Judicial sources said earlier this month that the public prosecutor had asked Banque du Liban to freeze the accounts of four pro-Syrian Lebanese generals arrested in August as suspects in Hariri’s Feb. 14 assassination.
— Additional input from agencies
