U.N. Report: Syria, Lebanon Implicated in Hariri Assassination

October 21, 2005 --

U.N.: Syria, Lebanon Involved in Slaying
U.N. Probe: Syrian and Lebanese Security Officials Involved in Former Lebanon PM's Assassination. (AP)

Transcript of the UN Report (The Financial Times)

Top Syrian Seen as Prime Suspect in Assassination
The U.N. inquiry into the murder of a former Lebanese prime minister is focusing on the brother-in-law of Syria's president. (NY Times)

Syria Rejects Hariri Probe Findings
Syria has rejected UN findings that linked Damascus to the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri as false, unprofessional and politicized. (Press Association)

Lahoud Denies Talk With Hariri Suspect
Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has denied that a suspect in the killing of ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri telephoned him minutes before the assassination. (UPI)

Background on Syria and the Rafiq Hariri Investigation (The Washington Post)

Syria, U.S. Almost Reached Deal End of the Summer
A deal was almost reached between the U.S. and Syria at the end of the summer, Al Hayat cites "informed Western and Arabic diplomatic sources" as saying. After months of contacts between the two sides, the U.S. asked for Syrian President Bashar al Asad to announce his commitment to stop any type of support to the insurgency in Iraq. In return, the U.S. would take steps to end Syria's "isolation." Al Asad never made the announcement and contacts stopped until another channel of communication was reopened when the same Syrian delegation met in London with representatives of the US, British, Frensh and German governments. The U.S. had more demands this time, including full cooperation with the Hariri investigation and handing over any suspect wanted for involvement in the assassination. Syria never responded. (Al Hayat)

Four to Be Deported After Bomb-Plot Tip
A man detained after his name came up in a tip about a purported bomb plot against Baltimore highway tunnels will be deported for immigration violations along with three other men who were picked up at the same time, a federal official said Wednesday. (Chicago Tribune)

Cover-Up Issue Is Seen as Focus in Leak Inquiry
Karl Rove and I. Lewis Libby Jr. have been advised that they may be in serious legal jeopardy, lawyers tied to the case said. (NY Times)

Aide Says FEMA Ignored Warnings
Agency member, in New Orleans when Katrina hit, tells the Senate that Michael Brown ignored reports that the worst had happened. (The Washington Post)

Hunger Strikers Allege 'Force Feed Torture' at Guantánamo
Prisoners at Guantánamo Bay claim US troops punish them by repeatedly inserting and removing dirty feeding tubes until detainees vomit blood. (The Guardian)

U.S. Denies Feeding Tube Misuse at Gitmo
Chief Doctor at U.S. Prison at Guantanamo Bay Denies Misusing Detainees' Feeding Tubes. (AP)

Suspect Confirms al Zarqawi's Involvement in Al Aqaba Attack
The main suspect in the August 19th bombings in al Aqaba admitted that Abu Musaab al Zarqawi and his group al Qaeda in Iraq were involved in planning the attack, according to Jordanian security sources. Ali al Sahli said a number of al Zarqawi's aides visited him at home and contacted cells associated with the groups in Jordan. (Asharq al Awsat)

Pakistan Aid 'Totally Inadequate'
President Pervez Musharraf says his country needs billions more dollars in earthquake reconstruction aid. (BBC)

Afghans Outraged Over Alleged Desecration
U.S. officials braced for possible attacks in response to allegations that G.I.'s burned two dead Taliban fighters. (AP)

Migrating Birds Tested in Avian Flu Early Warning System
Scientists are keeping a wary eye on the skies this year as birds fly south for the winter. (ABC News)

Spain Orders G.I. Arrests in Civilian's Death
A Spanish judge issued an international arrest order for three American soldiers on Wednesday in connection with the killing of a Spanish journalist in Baghdad during the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. (NY Times)

Saddam Trial Defense Lawyer Found Dead
Defense lawyer in Saddam Hussein's mass murder trial who was kidnapped found dead. (AP)

Abducted Guardian Journalist Is Freed
Rory Carroll, the Guardian journalist kidnapped in Baghdad on Wednesday, has been freed. (The Guardian)

Iraqi Forces Hold Saddam's Nephew
One of Saddam Hussein's nephews has been arrested on suspicion of being one of the chief financiers of the Iraqi insurgency, officials say. (BBC)

U.S. May Seek Tehran's Help on Iraq
Officials are debating direct contact with Iran in an effort to defeat insurgents and stabilize Baghdad's government, Rice tells senators. (LA Times)

This is How I Saw Ghazi Kenaan
I was surprised by the speed of setting a date since the responsibilities of a man like Ghazi Kenaan do not allow for a last-minute date with a journalist who came to make acquaintance. (Al Hayat)

The Mounting Cost of Wars
The Pentagon has made it difficult to figure out how much the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing American taxpayers. But the Congressional Research Service has made a useful effort to break out the costs—showing that the Iraq war is becoming increasingly costly each year. (US News & World Report)

Timed To Perfection
Saddam's trial is merely a political sideshow. (The Guardian)

A Watershed in the History of Arab Justice
It is an amazing spectacle when a dictator and a mass murderer faces a courtroom during his trial with the audacity of Saddam Hussein. (The Daily Star)

From Saddam's Trial to Syrian Suicide: Accountability comes to the Arab World
Are we seeing the start of an Arab Autumn? (Asharq al Awsat)