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Syria agrees to allow UN investigators to question officials
(AP)
Updated: 2005-11-26 10:24
Syria agreed Friday to allow U.N. investigators to question its officials
over Rafik Hariri's assassination in Vienna, ending a deadlock with the United
Nations that had brought mounting pressure on Damascus.
Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Moallem told a news conference that the
breakthrough came after Syria received "guarantees concerning the rights of the
individuals" and assurances that Syrian sovereignty would be respected.
A U.N. commission mandated by the Security Council is investigating the death
of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed with 20 other
people in a massive truck bombing in Beirut on February 14. The commission,
headed by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, issued an interim report last month
that implicated Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services.
"The (Syrian) leadership has decided to inform Mehlis that it accepts his
suggestion, as a compromise, that the venue to listen to the five Syrian
officials be the U.N. headquarters in Vienna," Moallem said. He added Syria
would soon contact the commission to work out dates for the hearings.
The agreement was welcomed by Mehlis, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, and
the U.S. ambassador to the world body, John Bolton, who earlier this week
accused Syria of "delaying and obstructing" the investigation.
Syria's Deputy Foreign Minister Walid
al-Moualem speaks during a news conference in Damascus November 25,2005.
Syria said on Friday it would allow U.N. investigators to quiz five
officials at the U.N. offices in Vienna in connection with the killing of
former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
al-Hariri.[Reuters] | Bolton said Syria's move was
a direct result of the "unambiguous, unanimous decision of the Security
Council," which had given Mehlis the power to question suspects at a location
and under conditions of his choice.
Syria received Mehlis' request to interview the officials on November 6, but
objected to Beirut as the venue. On Thursday, Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk
al-Sharaa criticized Mehlis for rejecting Syria's proposals for an alternative
venue.
Syria claimed its officials would not be safe in Beirut. It is believed that
Syria was worried that Mehlis could secure the arrest of the officials after a
hearing in Lebanon. Lebanon has detained several other suspects at Mehlis'
request.
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