Subscribe to Print Edition | Sun., March 30, 2008 Adar2 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:05 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Slain former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri. (AP) Last update - 09:27 30/03/2008 UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM murder case By Shlomo Shamir, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Israel, Syria, Rafik Hariri  Syria is still under suspicion in the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, senior United Nations officials said this weekend. This is at odds with the report issued on Friday by a UN team investigating the assassination which blamed a "criminal network" for the killing. The report is the 10th one released by the UN commission since it began its investigation in June 2005, but the first issued to the Security Council by the new chief investigator, Daniel Bellemare. Bellemare said in his report that evidence indicates that the so-called "Hariri Network" existed before the assassination on Feb. 14, 2005. Advertisement Syrian intelligence was often accused of being behind the murder, and while Damascus denied the charges, the attack nonetheless prompted Syria to end its longtime military presence in the country. Bellemare said the evidence also indicates that the network conducted surveillance of the former premier, and that at least part of the network continued to operate after he was killed along with 22 others in a bombing in Beirut. The former Canadian prosecutor said the commission investigating Hariri's assassination "can now confirm, on the basis of available evidence, that a network of individuals acted in concert to carry out the assassination of Rafik Hariri." According to senior diplomats in New York, "Nowhere in the report was it said or implied that Syria is innocent of direct involvement in planning Hariri's murder and carrying it out." The UN team found that the criminal network was also involved in the assassinations of other high-profile Lebanese figures. It establishes that a criminal "network of individuals" was responsible for the truck bomb that caused the death of Hariri and 22 others. Diplomats said off the record on Friday that the term "criminal network of individuals" appearing in the report "does not dull or modify the basic fact that those who planned and perpetrated Hariri's murder are terrorists." Bellemare said the commission would not disclose any names due to the need to preserve confidentiality. The names would be released only as part of the indictment presented to the tribunal, he said. The report says there are no fast answers in such an investigation and commends Syria's cooperation. The first priority is to find additional proof of the participants' identity and establish their links to other murders and figures outside the criminal network, the report says. Related articles: UN report: Hariri tribunal should be located outside of Lebanon Lebanese government approves UN draft on Hariri tribunal Tests indicate Hariri killer was man aged 20-25, not Lebanese Bookmark to del.icio.us   Condemned cinema Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive.' Suspecting Syria UN officials: Syria still suspected in Lebanese PM Hariri murder case.   1.   He who pays the fiddler 05:06  |  Mark Lincoln 30/03/08   2.   I am 100% sure, Israel has a hand in the coup!! 07:16  |  Moise 30/03/08   3.   #2 Moise 08:59  |  maoriboy 30/03/08   4.   #1, MarkL "I would guess" 09:27  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 30/03/08   5.   Note to UN: You have lost all credibility as an honest broker 12:21  |  Natallie Durson 30/03/08

Today Online 'PM passed 20 messages to Assad, but he disappointed us' Responses: 53 FM: We need to set final borders before legislating on settler evacuation Responses: 94 Dutch Jewish group: Anti-Islam film is 'counterproductive' Responses: 105 Editorial: Israel must help Bush, Rice's belated peace effort succeed Responses: 24 Rosner's Domain 38% for pressuring Palestinians, 25% for pressuring Israel (WTR) Bush is still determined not to repeat Clinton's mistakes Poll: what percentage Jews will vote McCain? New pro-Israel-pro-peace dovish lobby ready to launch (WTR) Obama rejects advisor's comments on American Jews and peace process More Headlines 18:43 Rice: We'll monitor Israel's vow to ease Palestinian movement 18:32 Netanyahu: No substitute for Israeli control in West Bank 16:12 Arab League: Support for Saudi peace plan depends on Israel 18:25 Hadash MK on Land Day: Israel's Arabs have nowhere else to go 16:47 On Israel, Clinton, Obama and McCain all aim to be like Bush 16:15 Police postpone opening of new West Bank station near J'lem 14:11 Police arrest four in Bat Yam, call off high terror alert 16:53 Cabinet approves development of national bicycle network 18:52 Ben-Gurion Airport witnesses fourth accident in a week 18:34 Genealogy Web site attempts to map out entire Jewish people 13:37 Budget problems force closure of top Druze science school Previous Editions Select Day 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Long-term Israel programs MASA is your gateway. More programs. More grants. 7589 rockets fired so far HELP US TO HELP THEM Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved