After receiving an official request from the head of the UN fact-finding mission here, Switzerland has finally agreed to send five forensic experts to Lebanon to join in the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. In a telephone conversation with The Daily Star, Ivo Cieber, spokesperson for the Swiss Foreign Affairs Ministry, said: "We responded now because the UN specifically asked us to come and work with the UN mission headed by Mr. Peter Fitzgerald." The Swiss Ambassador to Lebanon informed the Irish Deputy Police Commissioner and head of the UN investigative team on Thursday that Switzerland has agreed to the request for forensic experts in explosives and securing evidence.
Ceiber said: "We were only going to come and work within the UN framework. So after the UN team came and made initial assessments, we were called and we accepted the request." A similar request had originally been made by Lebanese officials, but had been declined. The Swiss team will consist of two explosives experts, two DNA specialists and a ballistics expert from the Defense Ministry and will be integrated into Fitzgerald's team. The experts are scheduled to arrive in Beirut this weekend. |