Lebanon's prime minister asked UN investigators probing last year's assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri to assist the government's investigation of the latest assassination of a prominent anti-Syrian Cabinet minister, the UN chief said Wednesday. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said Prime Minister Fuad Saniora sent him a letter after Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was shot repeatedly in Beirut on Tuesday requesting "technical assistance" in the government's investigation. Saniora asked that the UN investigation commission led by Belgian judge Serge Brammertz contact the appropriate Lebanese authorities, Annan said in a letter to the Security Council president. Since the International Independent Investigation Commission reports to the Security Council, Annan said he was transmitting Saniora's request "in order for members to take appropriate action."