Security Council Adopts Syria Resolution

31/10/2005| IslamWeb

The UN Security Council has voted unanimously in favour of a tough resolution demanding Syria cooperate with a UN investigation into the death of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri or face possible punitive measures.

The resolution was adopted 15-0 after the principal drafters, the United States and France, agreed to delete a specific reference to economic sanctions. Instead the resolution would consider possible unspecified "further action" if Syria did not comply.

A dozen foreign ministers or their deputies from the 15 Security Council members travelled to New York for the meeting, underlining the importance of the vote.

Financial freeze

The measure demands Syria cooperate unconditionally with a UN inquiry into the 14 February assassination in al-Hariri and orders Damascus to take into custody and make available to UN investigators people suspected of involvement in the killing.

It also calls for a financial freeze and travel ban on suspects to be named by a UN commission, led by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, or the Lebanese government.

But any Security Council member can object to a name on such a list.

The death of al-Hariri, an opponent of Syrian domination of his country, transformed Lebanon's political landscape. The killing led Syria to pull out its troops from Lebanon after three decades and has put increasing pressure on Lebanon's pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud to resign.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice cast the American vote in the Security Council and has sought to isolate Syria over the past year because of Lebanon.

PHOTO CAPTION

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Sharaa listens to speeches at the United Nations in New York October 31, 2005. (REUTERS)