Mehlis to leave UN Hariri investigation team
Lebanon-Syria-UN, Politics, 12/10/2005

The chairman of the UN investigation committee into the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, the German prosecutor Deltev Mehlis said that his mission ends next Thursday.

Mehlis said following a lunch work with the Lebanese minister of justice Charles Rizq that "the bad news is that my mission ends on December 15, and the good news that the team formed by the UN will continue its investigation."

Mehlis explained that there will be an interim phase during which the UN secretary general Kofi Annan will choose a successor for Mehlis. The Mehlis vowed to spend time with his successor in order to brief him on all aspects of the case.

Earlier, Mehlis met with the Lebanese attorney general Saeed Mirza and the Lebanese judge in charge of the assassination file of Hariri, Elias Eid.

On Wednesday, the Lebanese prime minister Fouad Siniora played down the consequences of Mehlis's decision not to continue his mission and its effect on the UN investigation.

Mehlis refused to respond to all American and Lebanese pressure to remain in his mission which expires according to the contract signed with the UN on December 15, 2005.

In his last work day, Mehlis is to submit a report to Annan on where the UN investigation on the Hariri probe stands.

Previous Stories:
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  Syrian students hand petition to UN representative   (12/7/2005)
  Ghazaleh, Jame returned back after their interrogation   (12/7/2005)

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