Al-Assad may meet Hariri inquiry
Syria-Lebanon-UN, Politics, 1/17/2006

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad might meet an international investigation team if that helps find the truth about the assassination of Rafiq al-Hariri, a source said.

"The meeting is possible only if it falls within the framework of fact-finding and defining ways for help," the well-informed source, who requested anonymity, told United Press International Monday.

"The meeting with President al-Assad within that context is a natural matter, but any attempt by the inquiry to interrogate him is impossible in view of the immunity that he enjoys as president of the republic and because we cannot accept the violation of national sovereignty," the source added.

The panel investigating the Feb. 14 assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister wants to interview al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouq al-Sharaa.

The source said four Syrian security officials who were already interviewed by the committee, which named them as suspects, were interviewed again in Vienna on Monday, accompanied by their lawyers.

They included Rustom Ghazaleh, the former military intelligence chief in Lebanon, Zafer Youssef, a technician in charge of communications and computerization, Abdel Karim Ismail, an aide of Ghazaleh, and Samih Kashami, a retired officer.

The source said the officials were interviewed again because the inquiry was taken over by a new chief investigator, Belgian Judge Serge Brammertz who succeeded German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis.

"The re-interviewing of the Syrian officials occurred due to the new presidency of the investigation committee and is aimed to re-assess the brittle facts and testimonies made by certain witnesses," the source added.

Previous Stories:
  Der Spiegel: Syria's former vice president prepares government in exile   (1/16/2006)
  Lebanese president condemns Khaddam   (1/16/2006)
  Al-Manar: Syria is Lebanon's and Arab depth, Franjieh says   (1/16/2006)
  Syrian witness held in Lebanon   (1/14/2006)
  The Guardian: response to UN investigation meeting al-Assad misunderstood   (1/13/2006)
  Annan urges Damascus to collaborate with UN committee   (1/13/2006)

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