Secretary-General sending team to beirut to report

 

on killing of former prime minister

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is sending a team to Beirut within the next few days pursuant to the request of the Security Council that he urgently report on the circumstances, causes and consequences of the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri.

The team will be led by Peter Fitzgerald, a Deputy Police Commissioner of the Garda Síochána (Irish national police force).  It will consist of staff with relevant expertise.

The team will make contact with Lebanese officials and others to gather such information as necessary for the Secretary-General to report to the Council in a timely manner.

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