Rice says UN must push Syria on Hariri inquiry
Syria-Lebanon-USA, Politics, 2/17/2006

The United States secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday that the Syrian file should be brought once again to the UN Security Council in order to discuss the extent of Syria's cooperation with the UN probe in the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.

Rice told lawmakers she did not think Syria had cooperated with the UN investigation into last February's murder of Rafik al-Hariri and something must be done about this.

"We will need, I really do believe, to go back to the Security Council at some time in the not-too-distant future to get a report on what is happening with Syrian cooperation," Rice told the House of Representatives International Relations Committee.

Syria has repeatedly denied a role in the killing of Hariri in a truck bombing in Beirut. A UN inquiry has implicated senior Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies.

Syria promised full cooperation after a UN Security Council resolution in October demanded that it cooperate with the investigation or face unspecified further action.

Rice said that the UN investigator Serge Brammartez had enough time in order to look at the issue and those who had met with him described him as " serious and firm over the issue of the Syrian cooperation."

Previous Stories:
  Lebanese crowds commemorate Hariri assassination anniversary   (2/15/2006)
  Amal: UN Hariri assassination probe should not be politicized   (2/14/2006)
  Daily Star: Brammertz concentrates on interviewing Syrians   (1/31/2006)
  Bush meets with Saad al-Hariri   (1/27/2006)
  Al-Gomhoriya: US works to end Syria- Lebanon ties   (1/26/2006)
  Lebanese students protest US intervention; Welsh's remarks   (1/18/2006)

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