International tension escalated Tuesday following Rafik Hariri's assassination as the UN Security Council called for an urgent report from the secretary general on the former Lebanese premier's death. The move came at the same time as the United States abruptly recalled its ambassador to Damascus in a sign that Washington's patience with Syria is running out. The UN statement, approved by all 15 council members, called on the Lebanese government "to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous terrorist act." The council expressed grave concern at the murder's possible impact on Lebanon's efforts to solidify democracy and stressed that the "terrorist act" must not jeopardize upcoming parliamentary elections.The text was originally drafted by France, which reacted strongly to the murder of Rafik Hariri, a close friend of French President Jacques Chirac. Paris has repeatedly called for an international investigation to be launched - a call rebuffed by both the Lebanese authorities and Saudi Arabia Tuesday. Britain's ambassador to Lebanon, James Watts, downplayed the role of Paris and Washington in drawing up the declaration, insisting it was "consensus driven," involving all security council members. "Some countries obviously presented more ideas than others, but overall, this was a process in which consensus prevailed," said Watts.
Although not specifically referring to Resolution 1559, which demands complete Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, the UN declaration issued Tuesday contained clear references to it. "The Security Council reaffirms its previous calls upon all parties concerned to cooperate fully and urgently with the Security Council for the full implementation of all relevant resolutions concerning the restoration of the territorial integrity, full sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon," the presidential statement said. U.S. Deputy Ambassador Anne Patterson urged Syria to pull out its troops from Lebanon and said the U.S. would be following up with Secretary General Kofi Annan immediately to see how the statement is going to be implemented.