Posted on 10/26/2005 7:49:41 PM PDT by SmithL
UNITED NATIONS -- U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Wednesday that Syria's leader refused to meet U.N. investigators probing the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, but would be required to submit to questioning under a proposed new U.N. resolution.
Bolton's comments were the first confirmation that the investigation led by U.N. prosecutor Detlev Mehlis had tried to talk to President Bashar Assad about the Feb. 14 car bomb in Beirut that killed Rafik Hariri and 20 others.
The Syrian president wasn't mentioned in Mehlis' report to the Security Council last week, which implicated top Syrian and Lebanese security officials in Hariri's assassination and accused Syria of not cooperating fully with the investigation. But Mehlis told council members at a closed-door briefing Tuesday that Assad refused to be interviewed, Bolton's spokesman Richard Grenell said.
The resolution introduced Tuesday by the United States, France and Britain would require Syria to detain any Syrian official or civilian the U.N. investigators might consider a suspect in Hariri's killing and allow the individual to be questioned outside the country or without Syrian officials present.
It would immediately freeze the assets and impose a travel ban on anyone the commission identified as a possible suspect in the assassination, and if Syria refuses to cooperate, the Security Council would consider "further measures," including economic sanctions.
When Bolton was asked whether the detention provision would apply to Assad, he replied: "It absolutely includes the president of Syria. No person is above the law."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
One thing you can say for Assad. At least he gives the UN all the respect they're due.
I really hope this was just a bad choice of words. Since when does law come from the UN?
Look, I don't like Syria and I'd support Bashir Assad's death by lead poisoning, but NO Nation's leader should EVER submit to an "interrogation" by the UN.
WhoTF do they think they are, anyway? A functional, capable world gooberment?
My sentiments exactly.
Whadda ya stooopid or something? LOL
This is all about Bolton takin' names and kickin' some arse!
"I really hope this was just a bad choice of words. Since when does law come from the UN?"
Nonsense, Bolton is just putting the squeeze on the little Syrian dolt. Think of it as a political wedgie.
There's a little good in everyone.
Great minds think alike.
For what it's worth this report was...edited to remove some names before it was released.
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