CAIRO,
February 19, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) – An international investigation
into the slaying of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Al-Hariri can
have grave consequences on the Middle East even if exonerating Syria,
Egyptian political experts warned on Saturday, February 19.
They
further feared that the probe could end up in an international
protection for Lebanon no matter which party was to blame for the
deadly bombing that killed the benevolent billionaire along with 14
others.
“The
main goal behind this investigation is to internationalize the
Lebanese problem, which poses serious threats to the region’s
stability,” Abdullah Al-Ashaal, a former Egyptian assistant foreign
minister and international law professor, told IslamOnline.net.
He
said any deployment of an international protection force would be
aimed more at disarming the Lebanese resistance movement Hizbullah and
than the mere implementation of UN Security Council resolution 1559 on
the withdrawal of “all foreign” troops from Lebanon.
“Syria
and Iran will not then sit on the fence,” Ashaal stressed.
“The
probe, in itself, will virtually lead to nothing,” he expected.
“Past
similar investigations fell short of condemning a certain country, but
it would rather expedite the Syrian withdrawal from Lebanon.”
The
United Nations decided Friday, February 18, to send a security team to
investigate the horrendous killing of Hariri.
The
Lebanese government, however, demanded an explanation from the United
Nations which did not even consult with Beirut before the decision.
Defense
Minister Abdel Rahim Mrad said his government was likely to boycott
the UN probe.
Beirut
has earlier resisted US-French calls for an international probe into
the assassination but invited Swiss explosives and DNA experts to help
in its own investigation.
Politically
Motivated
 |
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Al-Benni backed an international investigation to exonerate Syria of its alleged involvement in the crime. (Reuters)
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Gihad
Ouda, professor of international affairs in the University of Helwan,
Egypt, charged that the probe will be “politically motivated.”
“The
outcome will play well into the hands of certain bodies, whether pro-
or-anti-Syria, which augurs ill for the entire region, especially if
any information about the involvement of this or that country in the
assassination is to surface,” he told IOL.
Syria,
like many Arab parties, blame Israel for the assassination of Hariri,
categorically denying any involvement.
Washington
recalled its ambassador to the Arab country on Tuesday in reaction to
the bombing.
Though
he did not accuse Syria, wartime US President George W. Bush said on
Thursday, February 17, that Damascus should comply with the UN
resolution.
Ouda
said it makes every sense that the incident is the work of state
security agencies.
“This
possible scenario makes the international investigation a mission
impossible. The results could re-shape the future of this tinderbox
region.”
Judge
Hassan Ahmad Omar saw eye-to-eye with the two experts.
“The
truth of the matter is that an international and impartial probe could
lead to the culprits, but it would certainly ignite the region,” he
said.
Omar
added that the investigation could blame Israel at the end of the day
“provided that it would be supervised by a fair official like former
UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix.”
Blix
resisted intense US pressure and concluded that there were no weapons
of mass destruction in Iraq, charging that the US and Britain had
“hyped” intelligence to invade the oil-rich country.
In
Syria’s Interest
Akram
Al-Benni, a Syrian political writer, said an international
investigation into Hariri’s killing serves the interests of Syria
and the Lebanese government.
“It
will likely heap the blame on a fundamentalist group and exonerate
Syria and the Lebanese government of all charges leveled by the
opposition.”
But
he said that the probe should be conducted by independent judges under
the UN umbrella.
“Otherwise,
it could be doctored in the favor of a certain body,” warned the
expert.
Druze
leader Walid Jumblatt and other leading opposition figures blame the
government and Syria for Hariri's death and called for the cabinet
resignation.
More
than 40 of Lebanon's 128 MPs on Friday called for an “independence
uprising” against Syria’s grip, the first time they had used the
term.
Lebanese
Prime Minister Omar Karameh struck back, accusing the opposition of
“planning a coup d'etat” but maintained that his government remain
open to dialogue.
