Brammertz inspects site of latest assassinationSaturday

Daily Star, Brammertz inspects site of latest assassinationSaturday, June 16, 2007


BEIRUT: Belgian Prosecutor Serge Brammertz, who heads the UN investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, inspected on Friday the crime scene where Future Movement MP Walid Eido was killed on Wednesday. Brammertz's visit to the site was "a preliminary measure before taking future steps," a security report said on Friday.
Brammertz, along with a number of investigators and experts, was accompanied by Military Prosecutor Jean Fahd and Military Investigative Magistrate Rashid Mezher.
Brammertz also inspected damage to nearby buildings and vehicles, the report said.
The initiative of the Belgian prosecutor came in response to a request by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who asked Brammertz to offer the necessary assistance to the Lebanese authorities, a security source told The Daily Star.
"Brammertz and State Prosecutor Saeed Mirza are expected to announce soon the steps to be taken by the Lebanese judiciary and the international probe," said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Brammertz called for "keeping a close watch" over the crime scene in Ras Beirut until his team ended its inspection, the source added.
Another security source said a Dutch team of explosives experts is expected to arrive in Beirut "soon" to inspect the crime scene.
"The team already visited Lebanon following Hariri's assassination," said the source, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
Mezher continued to interrogate witnesses Friday, but no one has been arrested yet in connection with the explosion, judicial reports said.