UN: "Geographic Identity" of Hariri Killers Identified

 
Source: Al-Manar TV, 17-12-2008

A few months ahead of the end of the mission of the International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) over the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, its head Judge Daniel Bellemare issued a new report, briefing the commission's latest findings in the case.
On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council held a meeting in which Bellemare addressed representatives from various countries and discussed with them the report in its details.
Bellemare revealed that the commission has been able to identify the "geographic identity" of the criminals. He refused to enter into further details, saying that doing so would hurt the investigations.
He said that the investigation committee achieved many improvements since the previous report, and he affirmed that it had more information about the person who committed the assassination.
Bellemare also said that the committee had information on a connection between Hariri's assassination and other attacks that had occurred in Lebanon. "We will need more employees when we move to The Hague," he said.
Meanwhile, Bellemare requested the extension of the IIIC mandate for two months for the logistic preparation of the Special Tribunal's launch in March 2009.
He reaffirmed that the persons arrested on suspicion for their involvement in the assassination were assigned to Lebanese Judicial authorities, and "no one has the right to intervene in their work."
Lebanese Ambassador to the United Nations Nawwaf Salam said, in turn, that the Lebanese government welcomed the progress achieved by the IIIC and added that this improvement would pave the way for the Special Tribunal to connect new suspects to the case.
"We wish to extend the mandate of the committee so that it can resume its investigations until the beginning of the tribunal," Salam added. He also said that the Lebanese people only wish to know the truth and bring the perpetrators to justice.
He added that government was committed to the establishment of the Special Tribunal, as mentioned in President Michel Sleiman's speech, while addressing the United Nations General Assembly.