Syrian officials and Lebanese President accused by U.N. report
{{date|October 21, 2005}}
[[Image:Flag of the United Nations.png|right|175px]]
The death of former Lebanese [[w:List of Prime Ministers of Lebanon|Prime Minister]] [[w:Rafik Hariri|Rafik al-Hariri]] in February 2005 was the result of collaboration between [[w:Syria|Syrian]] and [[w:Lebanon|Lebanese]] officials, says an investigation submitted to the [[w:United Nations|U.N.]] [[w:United Nations Security Council|Security Council]] on Thursday.

Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlallah refuted the report saying it was based on witnesses "who are well known for their anti-Syria stands."

The report cast suspicion upon Syrian security officials, as well as current [[w:President of Lebanon|Lebanese President]] [[w:Emile Lahoud|Emile Lahoud]].  Hariri resigned from his post in October 2004, criticizing the Syrians for pressuring the Lebanese government to extend Lahoud's term. Emile Lahoud's office issued a statement "categorically" denying contents of the U.N. report; "There is no truth to it."

[[w:John Bolton|John Bolton]], [[w:United States|U.S.]] ambassador to the United Nations, said "After an initial read, the results are clearly troubling and will require further discussion with the international community."  The United States, Britain, and France have discussed taking actions against Syria, though no response is expected until at least next week.

Hariri and 20 others were killed when a bomb exploded outside his motorcade in [[w:Beirut|Beirut]].  U.N. Resolution 1595 provided for the investigation of Hariri's assassination, which will be led by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis.

==Previous related news==
*{{Wikinews|title=Syrian Interior Minister dead from apparent suicide
|date=October 12, 2005}}
*{{Wikinews|title=Large explosion in Beirut kills many including former prime minister
|date=February 14, 2005}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2005-10-21T010932Z_01_FOR081951_RTRUKOC_0_US-LEBANON-SYRIA-REPORT.xml
|title=UN report sees Syrian involvement in Hariri death
|author=Irwin Arieff
|pub=Reuters
|date=October 21, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/20/international/middleeast/20cnd-syria.html?hp&ex=1129867200&en=5dabf5f777608799&ei=5094&partner=homepage
|title=Syria Involved in Killing Lebanon's Ex-Premier, U.N. Report Says
|author=Warren Hoge
|pub=New York Times
|date=October 20, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051021/ap_on_re_mi_ea/syria_un_hariri_5;_ylt=At5mXRWwMs5p.8z2DHiVRSvagGIB;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
|title=Syria Rejects Accusations in Hariri Probe
|author=Donna Abu Nasr
|pub=AP
|date=October 21, 2005}}

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[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Lebanon]]
[[Category:Syria]]
[[Category:Middle East]]

[[de:UN: Untersuchungsbericht über Hariri-Mord vorgelegt]]
[[ja:レバノン： 国連報告書はシリア当局者とレバノン大統領の関与を指摘]]
175px
The death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri in February 2005 was the result of collaboration between Syrian and Lebanese officials, says an investigation submitted to the U.N. Security Council on Thursday.

Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlallah refuted the report saying it was based on witnesses "who are well known for their anti-Syria stands."

The report cast suspicion upon Syrian security officials, as well as current Lebanese President Emile Lahoud.  Hariri resigned from his post in October 2004, criticizing the Syrians for pressuring the Lebanese government to extend Lahoud's term. Emile Lahoud's office issued a statement "categorically" denying contents of the U.N. report; "There is no truth to it."

John Bolton, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said "After an initial read, the results are clearly troubling and will require further discussion with the international community."  The United States, Britain, and France have discussed taking actions against Syria, though no response is expected until at least next week.

Hariri and 20 others were killed when a bomb exploded outside his motorcade in Beirut.  U.N. Resolution 1595 provided for the investigation of Hariri's assassination, which will be led by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis.

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de:UN: Untersuchungsbericht über Hariri-Mord vorgelegt
Crime and law Lebanon Syria Middle East