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Syrians have &#34considerably slowed down&#34 probe into slaying of former Lebanese PM | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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UNITED NATIONS (AP) – Syria has refused to turn over documents and ignored interview requests in the U.N. probe into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a top U.N. official said Thursday.

German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, the chief of the probe, believes the Syrian silence has &#34considerably slowed down&#34 the work of the commission probing Hariri”s death, Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari told the U.N. Security Council.

After hearing Gambari”s briefing, the council released a statement that urged all states to cooperate, &#34especially those who are yet to respond adequately.&#34 That veiled reference to Syria had been more explicit in an earlier draft, but Russia and Algeria objected, council diplomats said.

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the United States was disappointed the council couldn”t have been more clear, and accused Syria of not cooperating. &#34Let there be no ambiguity about the American view that Syria”s lack of cooperation … is not acceptable,&#34 Bolton said.

Hariri”s assassination in a February 14 bomb explosion as his motorcade was passing through central Beirut shook Lebanese politics. The blast, which killed 20 other people, triggered mass protests that brought down the pro-Syrian government two weeks later, and it increased international pressure on Syria to withdraw its troops from Lebanon.

Syria withdrew the last of its troops in late April.

Lebanese opponents of Syria”s role in their country accused Syria and its allies in the Lebanese security services of involvement in Hariri”s killing. Both authorities denied any involvement.

In his briefing to the council, Gambari said Mehlis” probe had good cooperation from Israel and Jordan but that Syria had not answered a July 19 request to interview five witnesses. Nor had it responded to a request at the end of July for documents, he said.

Syria”s U.N. Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad approached the U.N. on August 18 saying his country was willing to &#34engage in discussions,&#34 Gambari said. But that offer can”t replace actual assistance, and Mehlis believes &#34the lack of timely response by the Syrian Arab Republic has considerably slowed down the commission”s work,&#34 Gambari said.

In comments to reporters after Gambari”s briefing, Mekdad rejected the claim that Syria was slowing down the probe and said it wanted to cooperate.

&#34I would like to inform you that Syria is very much interested in all the results of the investigation,&#34 he said. &#34We shall cooperate with Mr. Mehlis.&#34

Secretary-General Kofi Annan gave the probe a three-month mandate when it began its work on June 16, but said it could be extended for three more months if Annan wants.

Japan”s U.N. Ambassador Kenzo Oshima, Security Council president of August, said Mehlis was likely to request more time soon. Annan has said he would grant the request if Mehlis asks.