UN extends Hariri murder inquiry another year

UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council today extended for another year the mandate of the international commission investigating the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

A resolution adopted unanimously by the 15-nation council also authorised the commission to delve more deeply into a related investigation of 14 other bomb attacks in Lebanon that investigators suspect are linked to Hariri's assassination.

The council acted after chief investigator Serge Brammertz reported "considerable progress" in the commission's work but gave no indication he knew yet who was behind the crime.

Hariri, who became a critic of Syria's decades-long domination of Lebanon shortly before his death, was killed along with 22 others by a huge bomb in broad daylight on Feb. 14, 2005, as his motorcade travelled along a Beirut street.

The attack took place after he accused Syria of meddling in Lebanese politics. Mass street protests followed and Lebanese opposition politicians blamed Damascus for his death.

Syria has repeatedly denied involvement in the killing.

The Security Council ordered an outside inquiry into the murder in December 2005. The council vote extends the investigation until June 15, 2007.

- REUTERS