US envoy: Assad refused to be interviewed
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-27 09:34

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said Wednesday that Syria's leader refused to meet U.N. investigators probing the assassination of Lebanon's former prime minister, but would be required to submit to questioning under a proposed new U.N. resolution.

The Syrian president wasn't mentioned in Mehlis' report to the Security Council last week, which implicated top Syrian and Lebanese security officials in Hariri's assassination and accused Syria of not cooperating fully with the investigation. But Mehlis told council members at a closed-door briefing Tuesday that Assad refused to be interviewed, Bolton's spokesman Richard Grenell said.

The resolution introduced Tuesday by the United States, France and Britain would require Syria to detain any Syrian official or civilian the U.N. investigators might consider a suspect in Hariri's killing and allow the individual to be questioned outside the country or without Syrian officials present.

It would immediately freeze the assets and impose a travel ban on anyone the commission identified as a possible suspect in the assassination, and if Syria refuses to cooperate, the Security Council would consider "further measures," including economic sanctions.

Syrians walks infront of posters showing President Bashar Assad and Cuban revolutionary leader Ernesto 'Che' Guevara , left, in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday Oct.26, 2005.[AP]

When Bolton was asked whether the detention provision would apply to Assad, he replied: "It absolutely includes the president of Syria. No person is above the law."

"The president has the opportunity to talk to the media all the time and he's still doing it. He should have a few minutes to talk to commissioner Mehlis," Bolton said.

The U.S. ambassador disclosed Assad's refusal to be questioned while defending the tough draft resolution, which faces strong opposition from Russia, China and Algeria.

The Security Council held closed-door consultations on the draft Wednesday.

In Beirut, judicial officials said two brothers — Ahmad Abdel-Al and Mahmoud Abdel-Al, both members of the pro-Syrian Sunni Muslim fundamentalist group Al-Ahbash — who were cited in the U.N. report had been detained. The officials spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to give official statements.

They said Mahmoud Abdel-Al was detained in Beirut on Saturday at the recommendation of U.N. investigators, who said he made "interesting" telephone calls Feb. 14, including one to pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud, just before a bomb killed Hariri. Lahoud's office has denied receiving such a call.

Mahmoud's brother, arrested earlier on weapons charges, was named by Mehlis as a "key figure" who had extensive contacts with top Lebanese security officials before and after the blast, and tried to hide information from investigators..

Opposition to the resolution from Russia and China could spell serious trouble because both countries have veto power in the Security Council.

But Bolton said he was encouraged by the initial response to the draft, though he recognized the "turbulence" of some initial reactions.

"We're open to suggestions," he said. "But in terms of the purpose that we have, of sending a strong and clear signal, that's not going to change."

"The Mehlis report says officials of the government of Syria made false statements, that they have prevented access to material witnesses. ... President Assad has refused to meet with Mehlis," Bolton said. "That's not cooperation."

Syria's U.N. Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad said he hadn't heard Bolton's comments but countered that Assad has "expressed on more than one occasion that those who committed this crime, whether Syrians or not, are traitors and they have to be put to justice."

He called the draft resolution "a U.S. agenda against Syria" and said he expects key points to be disputed during the council's upcoming discussions.

"I'm sure Russia and others will not accept such an agenda because this is a United States agenda," Mekdad said.

Without elaborating, China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said, "I'm sure the co-sponsors will get our views and try to modify it. Otherwise, there will be a split in the council."

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said while accompanying Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on a trip to Israel, according to the Interfax, Itar-Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies, that "Russia will be doing everything necessary to prevent attempts to impose sanctions against Syria."

Bolton said he has no problem with the Russian statement because it says "they don't favor sanctions against the Syrian government at this point" and the resolution doesn't impose sanctions on the government.

Another problem for some countries is the draft resolution's mandate under Chapter VII of the U.N. Charter, which is militarily enforceable. Several countries, including the Philippines, have said they would prefer a Chapter VI mandate which would not authorize military force.