 DUBAI - The son of slain Lebanese premier Rafik Al Hariri accused Syria on Monday of trying to influence a UN probe into the murder, saying he never met a Syrian man who claimed to have been bribed to testify against Damascus.
Witness Hosam Taher Hosam appeared on Syrian state television last week and accused Lebanese officials, including Haririâs son Saad, of a scheme of threats, bribery and torture to induce him to falsely implicate Syria and said the initial findings of the UN inquiry rested largely on his lies. Asked about Hosamâs testimony, Saad Al Hariri told a media forum in Dubai: âThere are people who have interest in trying to take the investigation to another level ... I never met him, I never had (any) connection with him. Definitely there were no bribes given to anybody in the investigation. He came to the commission freely and he then went to Syria freely...this is propaganda and part of the media campaign that some people are starting to undermine the (UN) commission.â
| And what part of that do you find surprising? |
UN investigators started questioning five Syrian officials in Vienna on Monday over Haririâs killing in Beirut, diplomatic sources said. Syria, which denies any role in the murder, agreed after guarantees from permanent UN Security Council member Russia that the officials could return to Damascus afterwards.
| Guesses as to how many of the have have heart attacks or helicopter accidents?... Ooooh! Ooooh! Wonder what the chances are that one of them will be murdered by Lebanese? Or Zionists? |
Hariri, a member of parliament and his fatherâs political heir,
| Keep in mind that Leb is an hereditary oligarchy... |
urged Syria to avoid procrastinating and cooperate with the UN investigation. âThe problem is between Damascus and the international community, nobody commits a crime and is above the law. We need to close this chapter quickly not to make it a political issue.â
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