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Photo: AFP
Rice vows to defeat those who terrorize Lebanon
Photo: AFP

U.S.: Syria obliged to comply

State Department spokesman says Damascus must detain senior officials suspected of involvement in killing of former Lebanese PM, after United Nations investigator submits harsh report

The United States will be firm on the need for Syria to detain senior officials on suspicion of involvement in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, State Department Spokesman Adam Ereli says.

  

Addressing the harsh report by United Nations Chief Investigator Detlev Mehlis, Ereli noted the U.S. has still not formulated a clear position on future moves in relation to the affair. The U.S. plans to engage in contacts with Lebanon and United Nations Security Council members in order to decide on the next move, he said.

 

Referring to the discussion expected to be held in the Security Council Tuesday, the American spokesman said he did not wish to resort to speculation.

 

“I'm not going to predict what Mehlis will demand or what the Syrians will do. I will tell you that 1636 is clear, and it says that if the U.N. investigator believes there are those who need to be arrested or need to be detained, then Syria is obliged to comply,” he said. “The United States would certainly be firm on that score.”

 

It also seems the Americans are unmoved by the Syrian threat that continued pressure in the form of sanctions will destabilize the Middle East and the world.

 

The world has to know who killed Hariri and the people responsible will be punished, a State Department official said.

 

‘Vicious act of terror’

 

Earlier Monday, the United States called the murder of an anti-Syrian lawmaker in Lebanon on Monday a "vicious act of terror" and demanded that Damascus stop interfering in Lebanon.

 

While not directly blaming Syria for the car bomb that killed Lebanese lawmaker and newspaper magnate Gebran Tueni, both President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pointedly referred to Syrian "interference" In Lebanon in statements condemning the killing. 

 

Rice spoke to French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy about the Mehlis investigation and Tueni's killing and how the international community should proceed in ensuring whoever was responsible is held accountable.

 

"Together we in the international community will confront and defeat those who seek to terrorize and subjugate a proud, independent Lebanon," Rice said.

 

Meanwhile, Lebanon is continuing with its investigation into Tueni's assassination. Five pro-Syria MPs have suspended themselves after the Lebanese government called on the U.N. to investigate the murder, as well as other political assassinations.

 

On Tuesday the U.N. Security convened to discuss the killing, after which it issued a strong condemnation without directly tying Syria to the murder.

 

The U.N. said in a statement that those responsible would pay for their crimes, referring to Tueni as “an outspoken symbol of freedom and the sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.”

 

““The Security Council reiterates its deepest concern about the destabilizing impact of political assassinations and other terrorist acts in Lebanon,” the statement said.

 

Reuters contributed to the report

 


פרסום ראשון: 12.13.05, 01:23
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