UN Security Council calls Syria to detain suspects in Hariri murder
Syria-Lebanon-UN, Politics, 11/1/2005

The United Nation Security Council unanimously called on Syria to detain Syrian suspects identified by the independent UN probe into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, and to clarify all unresolved issues, threatening "further action" in the case of non-compliance.

At a special ministerial-level session, the 15-member body adopted a resolution endorsing the findings of the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) into the assassination. Resolution 1636 took note "with extreme concern" of the UNIIIC's conclusion that "while the Syrian authorities have cooperated in form but not substance with the Commission, several Syrian officials tried to mislead the Commission by giving false or inaccurate information."

The resolution called on all countries to prevent the entry or transit of suspects designated by the Commission or the government of Lebanon, and to freeze all assets of such person on their territory. It took this action to assist the investigation and "without prejudice to the ultimate judicial determination of guilt or innocence of any individual."

The measures will stay in place until "all the investigative and judicial proceedings relating to this terrorist attack have been completed" unless the Council decides otherwise. The Council also set up a committee to register the individuals concerned and to remove anyone who is deemed to be no longer a suspect, and approve exceptions such as travel for religious or humanitarian purposes.

"Syria's continued lack of cooperation to the inquiry would constitute a serious violation of its obligations under relevant resolutions," the Council said, insisting that Syria "not interfere in Lebanese domestic affairs, either, indirectly, or directly and refrain from any attempt aimed at destabilizing Lebanon, and respect scrupulously the sovereignty, territorial integrity, unity and political independence of this country."

The Council requested UNIIIC to report back on the progress of its inquiry, including Syria's cooperation by 15 December or earlier if it deems that such cooperation does not meet the resolution's requirements, "so that the Council, if necessary, could consider further action."

The resolution determined "that any involvement of any State in this terrorist act would constitute a serious violation by that State of its obligations to work to prevent and refrain from supporting terrorism."

The Council resolved that Syria must detain "those Syrian officials or individuals whom the Commission considers as suspected of involvement in the planning, sponsoring, organizing or perpetrating of this terrorist act, and make them fully available to the Commission."

"The Commission shall have the authority to determine the location and modalities for interview of Syrian officials and it deems relevant to the inquiry," it declared.

In an interim report earlier this month the Commission, headed by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, determined that "converging evidence" pointed at both Lebanese and Syrian involvement in the 14 February assassination of Hariri, in which 22 other people also died.

The Council endorsed Secretary-General Kofi Annan's extension of the Commission's mandate until 15 December and decided to extend it further if so recommended by the Commission and requested by the Lebanese Government.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian FM addresses UN Security Council on Hariri assassination report   (11/1/2005)
  Syria starts its own investigation committee into Hariri assassination   (10/31/2005)
  Syrian, Arab and foreign condemnation on Mehlis report   (10/29/2005)
  Nasrullah calls for halting pressure on Syria   (10/29/2005)
  Syria keen to collaborate with UN investigation into Hariri assassination   (10/29/2005)
  Washington, Paris for strong resolution against Syria   (10/29/2005)
  Mehlis call for a Syrian initiated investigation   (10/26/2005)

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