Posted on 10/21/2005 5:54:24 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
UNITED NATIONS (AFP) - Chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis was embroiled in a raging controversy over why he left out the names of key Syrian suspects from his final report on the murder of Lebanon's ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.
Mehlis, who led a four-month UN probe into the massive bomb blast that killed Hariri and 20 others in Beirut in February, handed over his report to UN chief Kofi Annan on Thursday.
The report was also sent to the 15 members of the UN Security Council and the Lebanese government before being made public.
The document cited "converging evidence" of Syrian and Lebanese involvement and accused Damascus of blocking and misleading the investigation.
"There is probable cause to believe that the decision to assassinate ... could not have been taken without the approval of top-ranked Syrian security officials and could not have been further organised without the collusion of their counterparts in the Lebanese security services," it noted.
But controversy swirled after it emerged that there were several versions of the report.
"We produced a number of versions of the report, and I was just informed and made aware that one of several earlier drafts had made its way (by mistake) to the media," an embarrassed Mehlis told reporters.
The earlier draft quoted an unidentified witness as saying that the brother-in-law of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, military intelligence chief Asef Shawkat, and Assad's brother, Maher Assad, were among top Syrian and Lebanese security officials who plotted the Hariri murder.
The German prosecutor said the names were left out because of "a presumption of innocence" and not to give the impression that these allegations were "an established fact."
Mehlis, an experienced magistrate, added that he decided to delete the names when he was told Thursday that the report would be made public.
"I established a rule that any person named in witness testimony should not be named in the report unless that person has been charged with a crime" linked to the Hariri murder, he said.
"The final and only official version of the report is the one that was submitted to the secretary general and transmitted by him to the Security Council," he added.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters that the mix-up was the result of a "clerical error," not conspiracy.
Mehlis strenuously denied suggestions that the changes were made at Annan's instigation.
Asked by a reporter why the changes appeared to have been made at the time when he met the secretary general Thursday, he said he gave Annan an early draft in the morning and the final report in the afternoon.
"None of these changes were influenced by anyone. And there were more changes, not just the names. ... No one outside of the report team influenced these changes, and no changes whatsoever were suggested by the secretary general or anyone in the UN," Mehlis said.
"The secretary general has insisted throughout the process on the importance of the independence of the Mehlis investigation. This is Mr. Mehlis's investigation, this is his report," Dujarric noted. "The secretary general has at no time made any attempt to influence the content of the report."
Dujarric also made it clear that Mehlis's briefing to the Security Council next Tuesday would focus on the final draft, with the names of the Syrian president's relatives edited out.
The Mehlis-led inquiry into the Hariri slaying had been mandated under a UN Security Council resolution adopted last April.
Syria's UN envoy Fayssal Mekdad for his part rejected charges that his country had tried to hinder the UN probe.
"We did not hinder the investigation," Mekdad said. "The main objective for Syria was to uncover and give a full picture of how the crime happened."
Meanwhile the United States led calls Friday for action against Syria in the wake of Mehlis's findings. But the US State Department said no action would be taken until release of another report looking at whether Damascus has abided by UN resolution 1559 to respect Lebanon's sovereignty.
UN envoy Terje Roed-Larsen is due to hand over the document looking at progress made in implementing the resolution, which was designed to end Syrian domination of Lebanon and extend the government's authority throughout the country.
The killing of Hariri triggered an international outcry and led many in Lebanon to point the finger at Syria, hastening Damascus's departure from its small neighbour in April after a 29-year military presence.
Asked by a reporter why the changes appeared to have been made at the time when he met the secretary general Thursday, he said he gave Annan an early draft in the morning and the final report in the afternoon.
"None of these changes were influenced by anyone. And there were more changes, not just the names. ... No one outside of the report team influenced these changes, and no changes whatsoever were suggested by the secretary general or anyone in the UN," Mehlis said.
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Baghdad Bob lives and works for the UN doing investigations. ;-)
This image released by the United Nations shows United Nations International Independent Investigation Commissioner Detlev Mehlis(L) as he hands his report detailing the investigation into the murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri to Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the UN Headquarters in New York on October 20.(AFP/HO/File/Mark Garten)
Do they have a picture of every action in UN? Kofi signing this... Kofi receivng report that...
20 October 2005
President Bush Proclaims October 24 United Nations Day
Praises organization for 60 years of solving problems, supporting united actions
President Bush issued a proclamation October 20 calling on all U.S. states and territories to observe United Nations Day on October 24 with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
The president praised the global body for working to “solve problems and harness the best instincts of humankind” for the past 60 years.
Bush said the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 and the recent earthquakes in South Asia showed the great compassion of the world’s citizens. “The support from the United Nations demonstrated how nations of the world can unite in common purpose to address difficult challenges,” he said.
“With courage and conscience, we will meet our responsibilities to protect the lives and rights of others,” he said. “As we do this, we will help fulfill the great promise of the United Nations, ensuring that all people can enjoy the peace, freedom, and dignity our Creator intended.”
For more information, see The United Nations at 60.
Following is the text of the proclamation:
(begin text)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
October 20, 2005
UNITED NATIONS DAY, 2005
By the President of the United States of America
A Proclamation
Sixty years ago, the United Nations was created to spread hope and liberty, fight poverty and disease, and help secure human rights and human dignity for people everywhere. On United Nations Day, we recommit ourselves to the ideals on which this organization was founded.
Throughout history, the human spirit has been tested by the forces of darkness and evil. Since its founding in the aftermath of World War II, the United Nations has worked to solve problems and harness the best instincts of humankind. Today, we must continue efforts to ease suffering, spread freedom, and lay the foundations of lasting peace for our children and grandchildren.
In the aftermath of last year's tsunami in the Indian Ocean region and this month's earthquakes in South Asia, we have witnessed the great capacity of human compassion. The support from the United Nations demonstrated how nations of the world can unite in common purpose to address difficult challenges. This enduring truth inspired those who created the United Nations, and it continues to do so 60 years later. With courage and conscience, we will meet our responsibilities to protect the lives and rights of others. As we do this, we will help fulfill the great promise of the United Nations, ensuring that all people can enjoy the peace, freedom, and dignity our Creator intended.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2005, as United Nations Day. I urge the Governors of the 50 States, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the officials of other areas under the flag of the United States to honor the observance of United Nations Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand thistwentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the Independence of the United States of Americathe two hundred and thirtieth.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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