Security Council unanimously calls on Syria to detain suspects in Hariri murder

31 October 2005 - The United Nation Security Council today unanimously
called on Syria to detain Syrian suspects identified by an independent probe
into the terrorist assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik
Hariri and clarify all unresolved issues, holding out the possibility of
"further action" in the case of non-compliance.
At a special ministerial-level session, the 15-member body adopted a
resolution endorsing the findings of the UN International Independent
Investigation Commission (UNIIIC) into the assassination. Resolution 1636
took note "with extreme concern" of the UNIIIC's conclusion that "while the
Syrian authorities have cooperated in form but not substance with the
Commission, several Syrian officials tried to mislead the Commission by
giving false or inaccurate information."
The resolution called on all States to prevent the entry or transit of
suspects designated by the Commission or the Government of Lebanon and to
freeze all assets of such person on their territory. It took this action to
assist the investigation and "without prejudice to the ultimate judicial
determination of guilt or innocence of any individual."
The measures will stay in place until "all the investigative and judicial
proceedings relating to this terrorist attack have been completed" unless
the Council decides otherwise. The Council also set up a committee to
register the individuals concerned, remove anyone who is deemed to be no
longer a suspect, and approve exceptions such as travel for religious or
humanitarian purposes.
"Syria's continued lack of cooperation to the inquiry would constitute a
serious violation of its obligations under relevant resolutions," the
Council said, insisting that Syria "not interfere in Lebanese domestic
affairs, either directly or indirectly, refrain from any attempt aimed at
destabilizing Lebanon, and respect scrupulously the sovereignty, territorial
integrity, unity and political independence of this country."
The Council requested UNIIIC to report back on the progress of its inquiry,
including Syria's cooperation by 15 December or earlier if it deems that
such cooperation does not meet the resolution's requirements, "so that the
Council, if necessary, could consider further action."
The resolution determined "that any involvement of any State in this
terrorist act would constitute a serious violation by that State of its
obligations to work to prevent and refrain from supporting terrorism."
The Council resolved that Syria must detain "those Syrian officials or
individuals whom the Commission considers as suspected of involvement in the
planning, sponsoring, organizing or perpetrating of this terrorist act, and
make them fully available to the Commission."
"The Commission shall have the authority to determine the location and
modalities for interview of Syrian officials and it deems relevant to the
inquiry," it declared.
In an interim report earlier this month the Commission, headed by German
prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, determined that "converging evidence" pointed at
both Lebanese and Syrian involvement in the 14 February assassination of Mr.
Hariri, in which 22 other people also died.
The Council endorsed Secretary-General Kofi Annan's extension of the
Commission's mandate until 15 December and decided to extend it further if
so recommended by the Commission and requested by the Lebanese Government.
The assassination led to renewed calls for the withdrawal of all Syrian
troops and intelligence agents who had been in Lebanon since the early
stages of the country's 1975-1990 civil war, and the UN reported that Syrian
troops were withdrawn in April.