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July 24, 2005

Lebanonwire

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Lebanon's Hariri voices confidence in UN probe of father's slaying

WASHINGTON - Saad Hariri, the son of assassinated former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri, told CNN on Sunday he has "full confidence" in the UN investigation into his father's slaying.

In a televised interview from Beirut, Hariri -- the leader of Lebanon's victorious opposition alliance -- said he did not know who killed his father, but said "the investigation is going the right way."

France's Le Figaro newspaper on Wednesday published an interview with the head of the UN probe, Detlev Mehlis, naming the head of the presidential guard, Mustafa Hamdan, as a suspect in the murder of five-time premier Hariri in a February blast on the Beirut seafront.

The United Nations has since said Mehlis' remarks were published without authorization.

"I've heard the story, and I've heard that he is one of the suspects. I think Mr Detlev Mehlis made a statement in Le Figaro, a newspaper, and it's been news in Lebanon," Hariri told CNN.

"I'm trying to find out more information on that. I think, like I said before, pointing out a finger on somebody could be damaging. And, like you have in courts in the United States, you're innocent until proven guilty," he stressed.

Pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud is under fire over suspicions that Damascus and its allies in Beirut had a hand in Hariri's murder.

The assassination threw Lebanon into political turmoil, forced the withdrawal of Syrian troops in April and catapaulted Saad Hariri into politics.

Asked if all Syrian forces had left Lebanon, Hariri replied:"Yes, they are.

I think Syria's troops have been gone for a while now. I hope Syrian intelligence is out also."

Quizzed about Hezbollah's participation in Lebanon's political process, Hariri said: "We're a very fragile country and we need to resolve our problems within ourselves."

The Hezbollah militia is designated a terrorist organization by Washington.

"If we start talking about everything and resolving everything at the same time, we will not be able to sustain our stability," Hariri stressed.

Asked if he believed his own life was in danger, Hariri replied: "I think there is a risk. That's why I stay home most of the time, work from home. And I believe I have a mission and that mission has a risk. And I am willing to take it."

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