In a first report to the United Nations Security Council, the investigating team assigned to 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri indicated available evidence points to a criminal matter, shifting the blame from Syria.

Daniel Bellemare told the Security Council that to date, Syrian government cooperation with the commission has been satisfactory, adding it appears the murder was the act of a criminal network.

This marks a sharp turnaround in the investigation, which to date pointed to Syrian government and military officials having a key role in the murder.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)