Hariri murder investigation comes to Damascus
Damascus (AsiaNews/Agencies) German magistrate and chief UN investigator into the Hariri assassination, Detlev Mehlis arrived in Damascus two days ago where he wants to interview Syrian officials who were in charge of security in Lebanon. His investigating team held a second day of interviews at a hilltop resort overlooking Lake Zarzar just inside the border from Lebanon.
According to some sources, the UN team wants to talk to Syria's last intelligence chief in Lebanon, Brigadier General Rustum Ghazale, two of Ghazale's aides, and current Interior Minister Ghazi Kenaan.
Some have said that Mehlis has asked to see Syrian President Assad's younger brother, Maher Assad, and brother-in-law Assef Shawkat, respectively head of the presidential guard and paramount chief of Syria's intelligence services.
"Syria is committed to what it has announced, that it welcomes Mehlis and will co-operate seriously [with him] to discuss what he wants with Syrian officials," said Fayez Sayegh, editor-in-chief of the Baa'th Party's paper ath-Thawra.
However, in Damascus many observers believe that Syria's cooperation might end if Mehlis should formally charge those he is expected to hear as witnesses.
In Lebanon, the inquiry has already led to the arrest of three pro-Syria security officials and a lawmaker.
Meanwhile, the newspaper An Nahar has reported that Mehlis's arrival has caused unease in the population, raising its concerns over the possible impact of the UN inquiry on the regime. This has resulted in a rush on the dollar.
The value of the Syrian pound has steadily fallen since mid-August and is now almost on par with that of the black market. Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah Dardari has in fact announced that banks would sell the dollar at 54 pounds, slightly under the black market rate of 55.
Dardari said that the measure was taken to reduce pressures on the national currency and that Syria had nothing to fear from Hariri investigation. Having accepted to cooperate with the United Nations, Syria's interests will be better protected in the international arena when the truth comes out.
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