Son of slain Hariri hails UN report on father's murder

Saad Hariri, son and political heir of slain former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, hailed Saturday a UN report that implicated top Syrian and Lebanese officials in the assassination of his father.

Saad, a Lebanese member of parliament (MP) who has his residence in the Saudi Arabian city of Jiddah, made the remarks in a televised speech from the residence.

"The hour of truth has come,'' he said, adding "the (UN) investigation's report is a major first step in uncovering the truth. We will look forward to continuing chapters toward justice, which alone will be the source of full comfort for the Lebanese people.''

Saad, meanwhile, called for the case to be taken to an international tribunal capable of punishing the criminal culprits.

The above remarks came two days after the chief UN investigator, German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, released the findings of a UN probe into Hariri's killing, which names top Lebanese intelligence and security officials as suspects in the case.

Hariri was killed in a car bomb blast in Beirut on Feb. 14. Many Lebanese have blamed Syria and the Lebanese authorities under President Lahoud for the murder, but both Damascus and its Lebanese allies have denied any role.

The killing sparked massive anti-Syrian protests and led to Syrian troops' withdrawal from neighboring Lebanon in April after 39 years of military presence.

German prosecutor Mehlis was appointed in May by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to lead an independent inquiry team to carry out intensive investigations in both Lebanon and Syria.

Source: Xinhua