UN probe team to seek more time in Hariri case

A UN team charged with investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in February, will seek an extension of its mandate until mid-December, the Lebanese premier said Sunday.

The team led by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis is due to report to the UN Security Council by October 25 on the Hariri murder case. However, Mehlis now looks almost certain to ask for more time, though the Security Council has already extended the inquiry's original three-month mandate once.

"I think (Mehlis) will take all the necessary measures so his mission continues until December 15, which was the period originally assigned to him by the Security Council," Prime Minister Fouad Siniora said.

The Security Council ordered the UN investigation after a fact-finding mission came to the conclusion that Lebanon would be unable to conduct its own credible inquiry.

The investigation originally gave Mehlis three months. But he was allowed to ask for a maximum of three extra months, which would extend the probe to mid-December.

While it was not clear yet why Mehlis would ask for more time, diplomatic sources said his team had not ruled out returning to Damascus for more interviews with Syrian officials. Last month, UN investigators questioned a number of Syrian officials over the killing of Hariri and the truck bombing. Syria has denied any role in the bombing or a string of blasts and assassinations that followed.

Diplomatic sources said it was up to the Security Council to decide whether Mehlis would be allowed more time.

Mehlis left Beirut on Sunday and it was not clear when he would return, according to airport sources.

Hariri's killing has plunged Lebanon into its worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war, and also triggered mass anti-Syrian protests in Beirut.

Source: Xinhua