NEW YORK - The UN Security Council on Tuesday extended for another year the mandate for the commission investigating the murder of Lebanon's former prime minister Rafik Hariri and other assassinations.

The commission, headed by Serge Brammertz of Belgium, had requested another year, with the current mandate due to expire June 15. The Lebanese government supports Brammertz's efforts to find those responsible for the deaths of Hariri and 22 other people on February 14, 2005 in Beirut.

Since Hariri's murder, 16 Lebanese politicians and journalists, who, like Hariri, strongly opposed the Syrian military occupation of their countries have been gunned down. The most recent murder was that of cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel in November, 2006.

Brammertz reported to the UN Security Council at UN headquarters last week, saying that inquiries by the team of international investigators working for the commission had focused on the motive for killing Hariri. The Hariri murder investigation began in May, 2005, and investigators report every three months to the council.

'Since the last briefing to the council, the commission has significantly narrowed down its inquiries into the motive to kill Rafik Hariri to those linked to his political activities,' Brammertz told the 15-nation council.

Brammertz's commission has been asked by the council to investigate all the murders. He reported that he has looked into eight other attacks in which no specific individuals appeared to have been targeted.

He told the council that Syria's coooperation with his commission 'remains generally satisfactory.' The commission has requested assistance from 23 governments in addition to Syria and Lebanon.

Brammertz said he had made progress in establishing the motives for the assassination of Hariri and linking them to suspects in the killing.

'The aim remains to link together the most responsible perpetrators with others who knew about the crime, those who participated in the execution of it, and those who assisted in the preparation of the necessary components for its execution,' Brammertz said.

Brammertz said Lebanon, Syria and other states have provided 'mostly positive and timely responses' to requests for assistance in the investigation. -DPA