LEBANON: A UN fact-finding team said yesterday that Lebanon's investigation into the killing of former prime minister Rafik Hariri was seriously flawed and could not reach a credible conclusion.
The fact-finding mission, led by deputy Garda Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald, said an international investigation by an independent body was needed to "find the truth." The report, which Mr Fitzgerald handed over to Secretary-General Kofi Annan earlier in the day, also said Syrian military intelligence bore primary responsibility for the lack of security, protection and law and order in Lebanon, and said Lebanese security teams showed "systematic negligence" in performing their duties.
Lebanon's president Emile Lahoud said in a statement last night Mr Annan should "to do what's necessary" to solve Hariri's killing.
The Security Council ordered the fact-finding mission to the region last month to report on "the circumstances, causes and consequences of the assassination." Hariri was killed in a February 14th bomb attack on his motorcade in Beirut. Lebanon's anti-Syrian opposition and many ordinary Lebanese have pointed a finger at Syria and its local allies.
Opposition leaders have demanded an international investigation into the killing, saying they do not trust pro-Syrian Lebanese security chiefs. Syrian and Lebanese officials have denied any role. Some speculate Hariri may have been targeted because he backed a Security Council resolution drafted by the United States and France and adopted last year that called on Syria to withdraw its military and intelligence forces from Lebanon. Mr Annan says he expects Syria to complete its withdrawal before May elections in Lebanon. - (Reuters)