Mahmoud Abdel-Al, a member of the pro-Syrian Al-Ahbash Sunni Muslim Orthodox group, was detained in Beirut early Saturday upon orders from Lebanese Magistrate Elias Eid.

His arrest was the first since chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis of Germany released his findings into the investigation of Hariri's Feb. 14 slaying in a Beirut car bombing that killed at least 20 others.

The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr. Eid based his decision to detain Mr. Abdel-Al on a recommendation from chief UN investigators.

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Mr. Mehlis's report alleged Mr. Abdel-Al called pro-Syrian Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on his mobile telephone minutes before the blast that killed Mr. Hariri. Mr. Lahoud denied receiving such a call.

The UN inquiry claimed shortly after, Mr. Abdel-Al also contacted one of four Lebanese pro-Syrian generals who have since been arrested.

Police also seized unspecified documents during the raid on Mr. Abdel-Al's home, the officials said without elaborating.

Mr. Abdel-Al's brother is a prominent figure in Al-Ahbash group, Ahmad Abdel-Al, whom Mr. Mehlis identified as a “key figure” in the investigation.

Ahmad Abdel-Al had extensive contacts with top Lebanese security officials before and after the blast and tried to hide information from investigators, the UN report said. He was recently arrested in Beirut in connection with a weapons depot discovered in southern Lebanon in July.

The Mehlis report implicated top Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officials in Mr. Hariri's murder. While the Lebanese government praised the report, Syria has rejected its findings as false, unprofessional and politicized.

Lebanese legislator Saad Hariri, son and political heir of the slain former premier, praised the investigation and called Saturday for an international tribunal to try the alleged killers.

“Reaching justice presents the Arab and international community with additional responsibilities that prompt us to urge them to continue all aspects of the investigation in the crime and refer it to an international court that is capable of punishing the criminals,” Mr. Hariri said in a televised speech. (AP)