Brazil arrests woman sought over Hariri killing

SAO PAULO, Brazil, Mar 13 (Reuters) A Lebanese woman suspected of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri has been arrested in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, police said today.

Rana Abdel Rahim Koleilat, 39, who was sought by the international police agency Interpol, was arrested at a hotel in the city on Sunday afternoon by police acting on a tip.

A police spokesman said she was carrying a false passport. She also tried to bribe the officers, offering them (about 100,000 dollars) to let her leave the country.

Hariri was killed by a car bomb in Beirut on February 14, 2005.

A special United Nations commission is investigating the case and has pointed to Syrian involvement.

Police said Koleilat was also wanted for falsifying documents and bank fraud.

REUTERS KD PM2307