The international community must find a way to hold Syrian authorities accountable for the death of Lebanese former prime minister Rafik Hariri, Secre
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The international community must find a way to hold Syrian authorities accountable for the death of Lebanese former prime minister Rafik Hariri, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday.
Rice said she was deeply troubled by a UN report implicating Syria in the killing last February of the leading Lebanese reformer.
Rice spoke to reporters after the release of a report by UN investigator Detlev Mehlis that established a clear link between Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies in the Hariri's murder. She declined to discuss next steps beyond saying that some kind of international mechanism must be established to ensure that Syria is held accountable.
Rice said there is strong support among UN members for an extension of Mehlis' mandate, perhaps until Dec. 15.
"Accountability is going to be very important for the international community," she said.