Beirut, Asharq Al-Awsat – The UN investigation into the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri continued on Friday with judicial sources revealing magistrate Elias Eid had questioned a number of individuals for the first time while the Commission heard the statements of anonymous witnesses.

As part of the ongoing probe, the Lebanese police continued to query eight men under arrested following a request by the general prosecutor, Said Mirza, who owned mobile phone shops in the northern city of Tripoli and sold equipment used around the time of the murder, on February 14th, 2005.

Sources revealed the men belonged to a number of religious groups such as the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects (Jamiyyat al Masahri al Khayyriya al Islamiya) also known as “al Ahbash”. They were taken into custody after their shops were raided late on Wednesday night and then questioned by the international investigation team.

While still awaiting the results of questioning Syrian officials to shed light on the planning and execution of the murder, Lebanese sources stressed the probe had, so far, uncovered a number of facts and gathered conclusive evidence to be publicized next week to correspond with a number of arrests that will send shockwaves through Lebanese society.

The sources expected charges to be brought former politicians, prior to the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon, as well members of political groups loyal to Damascus, and high ranking army officer and others in government with influence over political and security developments in the country