ICC man for Hariri probe

NEW YORK - A Belgian prosecutor with the International Criminal Court will be the new head of a United Nations investigation into the death of a former Lebanese Prime Minister.

Serge Brammertz, now the deputy prosecutor of The Hague-based court, would replace German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, who intends to leave the inquiry into the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri shortly after his successor arrives.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a letter to the 15-nation Security Council, which authorised the investigation, telling them of his intention to appoint Brammertz.

No objections are expected as key members had been consulted in advance.

"He will proceed to Beirut to take up his assignment as soon as practicable," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. He intends to stay in Beirut for six months.

The appointment of Brammertz, a former federal prosecutor of Belgium, was to have been announced a month ago. Annan delayed the appointment because Brammertz first needed to assure governments who support the International Criminal Court that his departure would not delay investigations in Sudan, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Brammertz would take leave of absence from the ICC, which was set up to prosecute individuals suspected of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

- REUTERS