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Brammertz Expected to Issue Arrest Warrants for Syrian Officials

A top U.N. investigator leading an inquiry into former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination is expected to issue arrest warrants for Syrian officials suspected of involvement in the murder.
An Nahar newspaper reported Friday that Serge Brammertz is likely to issue warrants for the arrest of Rustom Ghazaleh, who headed Syria's intelligence operations in Lebanon and his deputy Jameh Jameh. The two have been interviewed at least twice by U.N. investigators in Vienna.

The newspaper, quoting a Western diplomatic source in Damascus, said there may be two other alternative developments in the investigation.

"He (Brammertz) may insist on meeting President Bashar Assad, or he may at least announce the expected method for cooperation between the two parties and the legal framework according to which cooperation will take place," the source said.

Brammertz, who took over the investigation in January, made his first trip on Feb. 23 to Damascus, where he met with Syrian Vice-President Walid Moallem. Little detail was available about the outcome of his visit and it was not clear if he was able to secure an interview with Assad.

The Belgian prosecutor is seeking to interview the Syrian leader and his Vice President Farouk Sharaa for their possible connection with the Hariri murder.

Assad, who denies any involvement in the assassination, is trying to avoid the embarrassment of having to appear before the committee. His government has repeatedly asked for a protocol agreement that would set the guidelines for the questioning.

The source said there are concerns about the report that Brammertz is scheduled to submit to the U.N. Security Council in mid-March. He expressed doubt that "the report would come out with positive results in the interest of Syria."

Meanwhile, a U.N. legal expert in charge of studying the nature of an international court to try the culprits in Hariri's murder said there was progress in the talks about the formation of such a tribunal.

U.N. Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel held talks for three days with two prominent Lebanese judges at U.N. headquarters in New York, An Nahar reported.

"The meetings were constructive and precise and they took place in a clear and positive manner," said a U.N. spokesman.

He said Michel's talks with Ralph Riachi and Choukri Sadr have increased the U.N.'s understanding of the type of assistance that Lebanon needs to bring to justice in an international court
those responsible for the Feb. 14, 2005 assassination that also killed 21 other people.

The judicial team's visit comes weeks after Michel held extensive consultations with political leaders in Beirut. After his talks, the U.N. legal expert said there was wide agreement in Lebanon about an international tribunal.

Beirut, 03 Mar 06, 13:17


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