Top garda to investigate Hariri killing
A senior garda will be sent by the Government on a UN mission to investigate the killing of the former Lebanon prime minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut on Monday.
An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said he has asked Deputy Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald to help compile a report on the incident for the UN Security Council.
The UN said the mission will examine the “circumstances, causes and consequences” of the attack.
The UN team will work closely with Lebanese officials and will be staffed by experts in such areas as law, forensics, terrorism and political affairs.
Deputy Commissioner Fitzgerald has considerable UN experience in Bosnia, Central America, Israel and Iraq.
“I am very pleased that Ireland is in a position to assist the Secretary General,” said Mr Ahern.
“Deputy Commissioner Fitzgerald’s selection is recognition of his personal qualities, and the perceived impartiality of Ireland in an investigation of this kind.
“On behalf of the Government, I want to wish him and his team success in their work. Ireland has played a long and a substantive role in peace keeping in the Lebanon. ”
“This investigation is in that spirit of building a stable and peaceful society there.”
A car bomb blasted the motorcade of Rafik Hariri, killing him and 11 others in the most serious blow to the stability of Lebanon in more than a decade.
