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| Syria-Lebanon-Iran |
| Mehlis says Hariri probe unharmed by Syria witness |
| 2005-12-01 |
| BEIRUT, Dec 1 (Reuters) - Chief U.N. investigator Detlev Mehlis was quoted on Thursday as saying his investigation into the killing of a former Lebanese prime minister had not been undermined by a Syrian witness who recanted his testimony. German prosecutor Mehlis, quoted by a number of Lebanese and Arab newspapers, accused Syrian authorities of using the witness, Hosam Taher Hosam, as a Communist-like propaganda tool. Hosam appeared on Syrian television this week to accuse Lebanese officials of an elaborate scheme of threats, bribery and torture to induce him to testify falsely against Syria and said the inquiry's initial findings rested largely on his lies. "I'm used to this kind of propaganda," Mehlis was quoted by Beirut's as-Safir daily as saying. "I've spent 40 years in Germany and we used to see such things in former eastern European countries." Mehlis' interim report in October into the Feb. 14 killing of Rafik al-Hariri cast suspicion on senior Syrian officials and suggested the assassination was planned by top security officials in Damascus and their Lebanese allies. Syria has denied the accusations and called the Mehlis report politically motivated, saying Hosam's testimony was the main source implicating Syrians. "There is no main witness. There is a witness who might give information to the (investigation) commission. What Hosam said in Syria is different to what he told us," Mehlis said. He said his team would ask to question Hosam again because he was trying to hamper the investigation. Other newspapers gave a similar account of Mehlis' briefing. The German was also quoted as saying he might seek to question more Syrian officials after his team quiz five of them in Vienna next week, denying there was a deal with Damascus over whom he could summon. The city was a compromise after Syria balked at Mehlis' request to question them in Lebanon. "Everyone we ask to question, we will question... Cooperation is either total or there is no cooperation," he said. "If the investigations result in a request for arrests, the commission would recommend their arrests and the Syrian authorities would have to do it." His October report slammed Syria for failing to cooperate with the investigation. The U.N. Security Council, which authorised the probe, subsequently warned Syria to cooperate or face the prospect of further action. Mehlis is scheduled to submit his final report on Dec. 15. Ibrahim Gambari, the U.N. undersecretary-general for political affairs, said on Wednesday he expected the investigation to continue but that Mehlis may hand over the work to someone else. |
| Posted by:Steve |