UN questions Syrian officials over assassination of former Lebanese PM

UN: A UN team investigating the assassination in February of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri yesterday began questioning five Syrian officials in connection with the crime. The interviews, due to continue until Wednesday, are taking place at UN headquarters in Vienna.

Among those being interrogated are said to be the head of military intelligence, Gen Asef Shawkat, the brother-in-law of Syria's president Bashar Assad; Brig Gen Rustom Ghazzaleh, former chief of Syria's intelligence apparatus in Lebanon; and his deputy, Col Jamaa Jamaa. All five were questioned in Damascus in September but the team was not satisfied with their replies.

German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, head of the UN mission, had originally called for interrogations to be carried out at his headquarters in Beirut, but Syria insisted the lives of the men would be in danger or they could be arrested by the Lebanese authorities. Damascus also contended that such interrogations should take place far from the political pressures of Lebanon, where pro- and anti-Syrian forces are vying for power.

Mr Mehlis was set to submit his final report on December 15th but sources in Lebanon have revealed he could be expected to continue with the investigation following a formal request from the Lebanese government for a six-month extension.

Lebanese prime minister Fuad Siniora put the proposition to UN secretary general Kofi Annan on Saturday. The call for an extension is seen to be warranted because a key witness, Hussam Taher Hussam, a Syrian intelligence officer, stated last week that he had been offered a bribe to implicate Damascus by Saad Hariri, son of the slain former premier. A second witness, Muhammad Zuhair Siddiq, another Syrian intelligence agent who also may have falsified his testimony, is being held in France pending extradition to Lebanon.

More than 500 witness statements formed the basis of the initial report to the Security Council in October but many of the witnesses were not identified by name. The testimony of Mr Hussam, one of those named, apparently represented a major portion of the evidence implicating high-ranking Syrian figures as well as senior Lebanese intelligence officials detained and charged last summer.

Meanwhile, Lebanese political and legal figures have been debating the pros and cons of establishing an international tribunal to try those accused of the slaying of Mr Hariri.