Hariri probe 'finds new culprits'

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The UN commission into the murder of former Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri in 2005 says it is making progress and has identified more of those involved.

Chief investigator Serge Brammertz said the commission was closely examining the possibility that two or more teams were involved in the killing.

He also warned that those who carried out the attack still had extensive operational capabilities in Beirut.

Mr Brammertz said Syria had generally co-operated with the investigation.

Earlier reports implicated the Syrians in Mr Hariri's death - a claim Damascus denies.

A number of other prominent Lebanese politicians and journalists have been killed since Mr Hariri's death.

Mr Brammertz said that establishing links between these killings and that of Mr Hariri was now a priority for the investigation.

Explosives proximity

"The commission has also deepened and broadened its understanding of the possible involvement of a number of persons of interest, including persons who have recently been identified by the commission," Mr Brammertz said.

He said tests on the presumed suicide bomber whose explosives-packed van killed Hariri and 22 others indicated proximity to military ammunition as a teenager.

"This could indicate that he was either living close to a conflict area or to an area where weapons were used on a regular basis such as a military training camp," Mr Brammertz said.

It is the Belgian prosecutor's last report to the Security Council, which has appointed him head the Yugoslav war crimes tribunal.

Former Canadian prosecutor Daniel Bellemare takes over the investigation from Mr Brammertz.