Moscow drops request on state blocking Lebanon probe

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 23 (Reuters) Russia on Monday dropped its quest for the UN Security Council to find out which nations had not cooperated with an investigation into political murders in Lebanon, its UN ambassador said.

Most council members, especially France and the United States, disagreed with putting such a request to Serge Brammertz, head of a UN probe into the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and 15 other apparently politically motivated attacks.

Russia is an ally of Syria, which many Lebanese blame for the killings. Syria denies any involvement.

Last month, Brammertz told reporters he had sent out some 60 requests to 10 countries and ''today there are more than 20 still not answered.'' This, he said, impeded the work of his commission.

Brammertz did not name the countries. Russia's UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin then wanted to know who they are, saying the council should ask the prosecutor ''to be more specific next time he reports in March.'' But yesterday, Churkin told reporters, ''It was not possible to reach agreement either on the form or on the substance of the message by the Security Council to Mr. Brammertz that was proposed by the Russian delegation. This is the end of the issue at this stage.'' But Churkin added, ''We have reason to believe that our initiative has been useful in promoting better cooperation with the Brammertz commission'' even if this could not be done formally by the council.

Western diplomats, whose countries may well be on the list, indicated that the Russian action would draw attention from Syria, the subject of several council resolutions.

Syria denies involvement in the Hariri slaying, which took place after the former prime minister accused Damascus of meddling in Lebanese politics. Street protests in Lebanon after the killing prompted Syria to withdraw forces that had been in the country for 22 years.

Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari has singled out France, instrumental with the United States in getting the council to approve the Hariri probe, as key in blocking the letter to Brammertz. A watered-down draft was drawn up by council members but opposed by Russia.

REUTERS MQA RN0503