Naharnet Newsdesk - Mehlis Report Sees Syria as 'Uncooperative', Recommends International Tribunal

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Mehlis Report Sees Syria as 'Uncooperative', Recommends International Tribunal

An upcoming U.N. report into Rafik Hariri's murder will accuse Syria of violating its commitments by not cooperating with the probe and will recommend the creation of an international court to try the perpetrators, An Nahar reported Thursday.
The report by Detlev Mehlis would not be altered by recent testimonies by senior Syrian officials, who have been questioned in Vienna, diplomats said.

They said the report will include three main elements: Strong evidence that Syria has been uncooperative, thus violating its commitments and pledges; a recommendation for the questioning of Syrian and Lebanese officers and politicians; and the creation of an international court to try suspects in the Hariri murder.

Quoting a diplomatic document, senior U.S. diplomats, said that as a consequence to the Syrian stance, the Security Council might impose sanctions on Syrian officials: the president, members of the Syrian Parliament, the prime minister, the defense minister and the foreign minister. Under the sanctions, Security Council member states will be prohibited from hosting these officials and their assets will be frozen.

In the meantime, Turkey strongly rejected allegations made by a Syrian al-Qaida suspect that he was bribed by the family of Rafik Hariri to give a false testimony in the murder of the former premier.

Loai Saqqa is a suspect in the Hariri murder and had claimed being pressured and threatened by the United Sates to implicate Syria in the assassination. He was arrested in August on charges of planning attacks on Israeli tourist ships in the Turkish port of Anatolia.

In an interview with Al-Mustaqbal, Turkish Justice Minister Jamil Cicek described as "lies" statements made by Saqqa's lawyer who claimed that his client had been "offered money and protection in return for mentioning the name of Bashar Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat" in the investigation. Cicek also rejected Saqqa's allegations that he had been contacted by "American and Israeli intelligence inside prison."

Cicek said he was ready to provide Lebanese media with all the necessary "documents to prove that Saqqa has been lying all along," insisting that the Syrian suspect had only been visited "four times by members of his family."

"Not one American or Israeli met Saqqa in prison. These are all lies and tricks aimed at attracting attention."

Cicek, who is also government spokesman, said that Saqqa "lied about being offered money by Israel and the Hariri family to mention Assef Shawkat."

Cicek disclosed that Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul, on his way to Syria, had called the justice minister to inquire about the claims. Cicek said the "Syrian officials are aware that this information is not true."

Beirut, 08 Dec 05, 09:27


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