By Xinhua
United Nations : The new head of the UN panel investigating the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri urged on Tuesday the UN Security Council to extend the mandate of his team.
Daniel Bellemare, the head of the International Independent Investigation Commission, provided an update to the council on the commission’s work, following the report that went to the council two weeks ago, which confirmed that a network of individuals acted in concert to carry out the assassination of Hariri and that this network, or parts of it, are linked to some of the other cases within the commission’s mandate.
Despite steady progress, there would be no indictments issued in the immediate future, he told council members.
“No one can predict or dictate how long this process will take,” Bellemare said, stressing that he wanted to send the clear message that “the search for justice cannot be rushed: it must follow its course.”
He asked the council to take into consideration the issue of extending the mandate of his team once it expires on June 15.
“This would give the commission the needed time to continue its investigation,” Bellemare noted.
“No one can predict or dictate how long this process will take,” added Bellemare, who took office on January 1, 2008.