The Lebanese police and army took additional security measures Thursday as the country awaited the findings of a UN probe into the assassination of fo
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
The Lebanese police and army took additional security measures Thursday as the country awaited the findings of a UN probe into the assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri, and Syria's president, Bashar Assad, again insisted his country was not involved in the murder that shook Lebanese politics.
Many in Lebanon and elsewhere blame the Syrians for the Feb. 14 assassination. Leaks to the tiny country's news media have suggested Syrian officials played a role, raising fears that pro-Syrian factions in Lebanon could resort to more violence if the UN investigation names Syria.
A series of mysterious bombings over the past eight months has killed or wounded politicians and journalists opposed to Syria and caused havoc in commercial and residential districts.
UN investigator Detlev Mehlis handed his report to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in front of journalists on Thursday. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said the report would be given to the Security Council on Friday and then to the press.