UN Council extends Hariri probe panel mandate

United Nations, June 16 (UNI) Expressing its willingness to continue to assist Lebanon in the search for truth behind the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the UN Security Council has extended for one year the mandate of the international commission probing the deadly 2005 car bomb attack which had killed 22 others.

A day after the UN International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) reported ''considerable progress'' into the probe, the 15-member Council yesterday voted unanimously for the extension until June 15, 2007 that had been called for, among others, by the Prime minister of Lebanon.

In the resolution, the Council reiterated its ''strongest condemnation of the February 14, 2005 terrorist bombing, as well as of all other attacks in Lebanon since October 2004, and reaffirming also that those involved in these attacks must be held accountable for their crimes''.

The council also supported the commission's intention to extend further technical assistance to Lebanese authorities regarding their investigations into the other terrorist attacks in Lebanon since October 1, 2004, and also requested the secretary-general to provide the IIIC with the resources needed for this.

In his detailed report on Tuesday to the Security Council on the investigation into the killings, head of the commission Serge Brammertz, said the ''fundamental building blocks for the investigation into the crime'' were now largely understood ''and provide the basis for investigative progress with regard to those who perpetrated the crime''.

UNIIIC was established by the Security Council in April 2005 after an earlier UN mission found Lebanon's own investigation seriously flawed and Syria primarily responsible for the political tension preceding Mr Hariri's murder.

Mr Hariri became a critic of Damascus' domination for decades of Lebanon. He was killed along with 22 others in a massive explosion on February 14, 2005 as his motorcade traversed on a Beirut street.

The attack occurred shortly after he charged Syria with interfering in Lebanese politics. Big street demonstrations followed and opposition politicians accused Syria of masterminding his death.

Damascus has consistently denied a role in the Hariri killing.

UNI XC LR VC0945