Undersecretary-General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari said the interviews at U.N. headquarters in Vienna will likely continue through Dec. 7.

The Security Council resolution that extended the investigation until Dec. 15 said German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis or the Lebanese government could request a further extension.

"It is very clear that he will need an extension," Gambari said in a news conference at the U.N. commission's headquarters in Monteverde.

"There are people who are going to be interviewed on Dec. 5th, on the 7th. Mehlis is going to report on the 15th. ... You have witnesses that have still not been interviewed, new ones, some physical evidence that (is) yet to be analyzed."

Gambari said he expects either Mehlis or the Lebanese government, or both, to request an extension, but he doesn't know for how long or for what specific purpose.

"Clearly it should be to complete the investigations," he said.

But Gambari said the commission's mandate also calls for strengthening Lebanon's judicial system.

Whether or not Mehlis stays on if the investigation is extended remains to be seen.

"I don't think he sees himself, personally, continuing ad infinitum," Gambari said. "He has some commitment of his own. I think we should separate the commission from Mehlis. Mehlis has become a symbol, but it's about an independent international investigation with or without Mehlis."(AP)(Photo shows Ibrahim Gambari)