JURIST - Paper Chase: Mehlis 'convinced' Syrian authorities responsible for Hariri murder

[JURIST] German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, the outgoing head of a UN committee investigating the February 14 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri [JURIST news archive], said Saturday that he is convinced Syrian authorities are responsible for Hariri's death. This was the first time that Mehlis unequivocally accused Syria of the assassination since the formal UN probe began in June. Mehlis also stated that he believes a link exists between Hariri's murder and last week's assassination of anti-Syrian journalist and lawmaker Gibran Tueni [BBC report] as well as a string of bombings in Lebanon since the assassination. Mehlis released a new report [JURIST report] Monday, citing fresh evidence that strengthened his belief that the Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services were involved in Hariri's death. Mehlis will step down from his post as the chief UN investigator in the Hariri probe [UN materials] as soon as the UN names a replacement, rumored to be International Criminal Court [official website] deputy prosecutor Serge Brammertz [official profile; JURIST report]. The UN formally extended the Hariri assassination probe [JURIST report] for six more months Thursday. AP has more.

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