UN Hariri death investigator to interrogate Syrian officers
Syria-Lebanon, Politics, 9/13/2005

Chairman of the UN investigation team in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, Detlev Mehlis, ended a decisive visit to Damascus where he is to return again to it by the end of the current week.

Mehlis met on Monday with the legal advisor for the Syrian foreign ministry Riad al-Dawoudi, and they agreed on arrangements of hearing Syrian witnesses in the case, according to the Syrian official news agency SANA.

Mehlis's visit to Syria came after the progress attained by the investigation in the assassination operation that resulted in detaining four senior Lebanese officers who were supportive of Syria in Lebanon and were accused of acts of killing.

Dawoudi received the German prosecutor upon his arrival by land at Jdedidt Yabous after he had crossed the Syrian- Lebanese borders in a procession of 18 cars.

Mehlis's moves in Damascus were besieged by secrecy amid security measures similar to that taken by the Lebanese army until Mehlis's arrival at the Lebanese-Syrian borders.

Worthy mentioning that Mehlis seekd to to hear from several army officers who occupied security positions in Lebanon before the Syrian forces withdrew from that country this year.

Among those Syrians are the current minister of the interior and former chairman of the Syrian military intelligence in Lebanon, Ghazi Kanaan between 1982- 2002, his successor Roustom Ghazaleh between 2002- 2005 and two of the later's assistant in Beirut, Muhammad Khallouf and Jame Jame.

A Syrian source close to the Mehlis talks in Damascus said that the UN investigator wants to meet at least 8 Syrian officials including senior Syrian officials who were serving in Lebanon during the time of al-Hariri assassination and other high ranking figures.

The source said that the Syrian authorities might ask for judges from Saudi Arabia and Egypt in order to examine evidences that made the meetings necessary for the investigations with the possibility that those judges will attend the investigation session.

However, a Syrian source said on Sunday that "Damascus will collaborate with the UN investigation committee and provides all possible facilities to it especially as Damascus is very interested to know the reality of the assassination of al-Hariri because this serves its interest."

Damascus had denied to have had played any role in arranging the assassination. It considers that the accusations and pressures imposed on it is part of "a scheme prepared by Washington."

Previous Stories:
  UN investigator in Damascus tomorrow   (9/12/2005)
  Lebanese scholar stresses deep ties with Syria   (9/10/2005)
  UN investigator postpones his visit to Syria   (9/10/2005)

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