U.N. extends Lebanese PM death probe

UNITED NATIONS, March 27 (UPI) -- The United Nations extended its mandate to investigate the 2005 terrorist attack that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and 22 others.

In a unanimously adopted resolution, the U.N. Security Council Tuesday responded to a request by the Lebanese government that sought an extension of the International Independent Investigation Commission set to expire June 15.

"The Lebanese government hopes that Commissioner Serge Brammertz, who is doing a highly professional job at the head of the Commission, will continue in the exercise of his duties during the coming period," Prime Minister Fuad Siniora wrote in a letter to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon last month.

Brammertz briefed the Security Council last week and said the IIIC has made "significant progress in several areas by further developing crime scene leads and expanding the forms of evidence relating to the perpetrators and building the linkage and context aspects of the case."

At the same time, he advised the IIIC needed more time to finish the investigations. In his latest report to the Security Council, Brammertz said the inquiry is working towards a "unifying factual theory" behind the crime.

The report acknowledged full support of the Lebanese prosecutor general in the investigation, which is also probing other attacks in Lebanon since October 2004, including the murder last year of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.