UNITED NATIONS, 16 June 2006 — The UN Security Council yesterday agreed a one-year extension of the UN probe into the murder of former Lebanese Premier Rafik Hariri and widened its mandate to cover other attacks in Lebanon.
The 15-member council unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by France, the United States and Britain that extends the mandate of the UN panel headed by Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz until June 15, 2007.
The one-year extension, which had been requested by the Lebanese government, was approved just as the Brammertz panel’s six-month mandate expired.
Hariri was killed in a massive bomb blast that also killed 22 others on the Beirut seafront in February 2005.
The council resolution also backed the UN enquiry commission’s “intention, as it deems appropriate and consistent with its mandate, to extend further its technical assistance to the Lebanese authorities” with regard to 14 other attacks in Lebanon since Oct. 1, 2004, including against anti-Syrian figures.
On Wednesday, Brammertz cited “potential linkages” between the Hariri murder probe and the 14 other attacks.
“In light of the potential linkages between the Hariri investigation and the 14 other cases, the (Brammertz) commission believes that a much more concerted and robust effort is needed to move these cases forward,” Brammertz then told the 15-member body.
The 14 cases include assassinations and assassination attempts targeting anti-Syrian Lebanese figures, as well as attacks on commercial interests.
The Belgian prosecutor said Lebanese authorities probing the 14 other bombings since Oct. 1, 2004 lacked “significant forward investigative momentum” because they lacked “forensic capacity to collect and analyze evidence effectively.” He said his panel had reached the preliminary conclusion that from an analytical standpoint the 14 cases could be linked, notably in the similarities “in the modus operandi and their possible intent.” But he also cautioned that no evidence had been developed “that would allow identification and linking of the perpetrators.”
Noting that “no clear linkages” had been found between the 14 cases and the Hariri probe, he added: “Further coordinated investigative work and additional capacities are required to elicit such evidentiary links.” Among the 14 cases are several assassinations, including the murder of anti-Syrian newspaper boss and MP Gibran Tueni last December, which some Lebanese lawmakers have blamed on Damascus. Syria, however, denied any involvement.
Tueni, 48, and three other people were killed when a car bomb exploded in a Beirut suburb, just hours after the Christian MP returned from France, where he had taken refuge, fearing his life was in danger.
Syria, which has strenuously denied any role in the Hariri killing, has come under intense international pressure to cooperate with the UN probe.
Brammertz noted Wednesday that cooperation from the Syrians has been “generally satisfactory,” with more than 10 requests sent to them answered in a timely manner and currently being evaluated.
His report handed to UN chief Kofi Annan on Saturday, however, said: “Full and unconditional cooperation from Syria to the commission remains crucial.” The UN probe could lead to the establishment of an international tribunal to try those found responsible for the murder.
Brammertz took over as head of the UN probe last January from his German predecessor, Detlev Mehlis.
Two previous reports under Mehlis had suggested top-level Syrian involvement in the assassination plot, and blasted Damascus for failing to cooperate and actively seeking to mislead the investigation.
