| UN begins talks on Hariri
investigation measure UNITED NATIONS - UN
diplomats on Wednesday began talks on a new draft Security Council resolution to set up an
international enquiry into last month's assassination of former Lebanese prime minister
Rafiq Hariri.
The draft, backed by Britain, France and the United States, calls for the "full
cooperation of Lebanese authorities" with an investigation commission to be set up by
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.
It calls Hariri's killing a "terrorist act" and authorises the commission to
collect any additional evidence and information in Lebanon.
A UN fact-finding report last week pointed the finger at neighbouring Syria over the
February 14 killing of Hariri, who spoke out against Syrian dominance of his country.
Among other charges, the report said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had threatened
physical harm against Hariri over his opposition to Damascus, and it called for an
international investigation.
It said that the Lebanese probe into the massive bomb blast that killed Hariri had been
flawed. |
