Syria 'trying to obstruct Hariri assassination probe'

Syria is trying to obstruct the UN investigation into the assassination of Lebanon’s Rafik Hariri, but will not succeed, the head of the commission into the killing of the former prime minister said today.

Detlev Mehlis was speaking of Syria’s presentation in repeated television broadcasts of a Syrian witness to the commission who recanted his testimony, claiming he had been bribed to give false evidence by the son of Hariri, Lebanese politician Saad Hariri.

In a rare briefing to Lebanese newspapers, Mehlis said this week’s TV appearances of the witness, Husam Taher Husam, was a Soviet-style campaign against the UN commission, but it would not affect the investigation.

In a few days’ time, the commission is expected to question five senior Syrian officials in hearings in Vienna.

The commission’s interim report implicated Syrian and Lebanese intelligence in the assassination. Syria rejected the charge.