An inquiry into the murder of Rafiq al-Hariri, a former Lebanese prime minister, is turning up significant links between his death and 14 later attacks in Lebanon, the chief investigator says.

Serge Brammertz, who leads the UN inquiry into the killing of al-Hariri, also said he continues to demand interviews and evidence from Syria.

Investigators conducted six interviews and held five meetings with Syrian officials in recent months, Brammertz said in Tuesday's progress report to the UN Security Council.

Al-Hariri was killed along with 22 others by a huge bomb on February 14, 2005, as his motorcade travelled through Beirut.

Brammertz said investigators sought from Damascus "information, artifacts, electronic media and documentation about certain individuals and groups.

"The level of assistance provided by Syria during the reporting period remains generally satisfactory. The commission will continue to request Syria's full co-operation, which remains crucial to the swift and successful completion of its work."

Shortly before his death, al-Hariri had criticised Syria's decades-long domination of Lebanon. He was particularly opposed to Syrian pressure to renew the presidential mandate of Emile Lahoud, who remains president today.

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Rafiq al-Hariri