UN tells Syria 'co-operate or else' over inquiry into Hariri murder

The Telegraph
Nov. 01, 2005

Syria was formally ordered yesterday to halt its interference with the international inquiry into the murder of a former Lebanese prime minister or face the consequences.

The United Nations Security Council unanimously agreed the ultimatum in a resolution passed by a meeting of foreign ministers in New York.

Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, told the gathering that President Bashar Assad's regime must change its behaviour over the UN-authorised inquiry into the murder of the Lebanese leader Rafik Hariri.

The Security Council was "putting the government of Syria on notice that our patience has limits", Mr Straw said.

"What the international community wants is co-operation by Syria with a criminal investigation. If Syria fully co-operates, that will be the end of the matter. We hope sanctions will not be necessary."

The final UN text warned Damascus that a failure to comply would result in unspecified "further action".

The resolution authorises action against suspects named by the inquiry. Their financial assets are to be frozen and they will be barred from international travel.

Those who could be affected included Mr Assad's brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, the chief of military intelligence, and his brother Maher Assad.

The specific threat of economic sanctions, which had been sought by America, France and Britain, was dropped at the last moment in order to secure unanimity.

Russia and China had questioned the promise of sanctions while the inquiry was continuing.

All the same, the text was a so-called Chapter Seven resolution, which can be militarily enforced.

Western leaders left no doubt that they intended swiftly to return to the issue unless Syria radically altered its approach.

Washington and its allies are determined to maintain the pressure on Syria, which has been increasing since the UN's chief investigator into the killing, Detlev Mehlis, reported that top officials in Damascus were among the prime suspects in the Hariri murder.

Mr Hariri was killed by a 2,200lb lorry bomb in February last year after he called for the withdrawal of Syrian troops from his country.

That triggered huge popular protests and the soldiers' departure from the country, but the West says Syria is still interfering in Lebanese affairs.

America's secretary of state Condoleezza Rice said: "With our decision today we show that Syria has isolated itself from the international community through its false statements, its support for terrorism, its interference in the affairs of its neighbours and its destabilising behaviour in the Middle East.

Now the Syrian government needs to make a strategic decision to fundamentally change its behaviour."

Syria's foreign minister, Faruq al-Shara, told the council that the resolution was "illogical and based on preconceived positions regarding Syria's guilt."

He also dismissed suggestions that Syria had not co-operated fully with the UN inquiry.