Lebanon, Syria praise UN report on Hariri hit

By BEIRUT, LEBANON
Lebanese and Syrian government officials have praised this week's report by the chief UN investigator into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, calling it "professional" and "satisfactory." The interim report, issued Tuesday by Serge Brammertz, a Belgian prosecutor, said the investigators had found links between Hariri's February 2005 killing and 14 other attacks on prominent Lebanese figures during the past two years. Brammertz also reported to the UN Security Council that Syria's cooperation with the investigation "remains timely and efficient." Last year Syria was reprimanded by the council for failing to cooperate fully. Lebanese Justice Minister Charles Rizk praised Brammertz's report, saying it has made "technical progress" in determining how the explosion that killed Hariri occurred.