Friday, March 25 2005 12:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Asserting that the Lebanese probe into the assassination of former Premier Rafik-al-Hariri suffered from "serious flaws," a United Nations fact-finding mission has called for an independent international inquiry into the incident.

Though not directly blaming Syria for the assassination of Hariri, the mission said Damascus bears the "primary responsibility" for political tension that preceded the assassination of Hariri.

Syria "clearly exerted" influence that goes "beyond the reasonable exercise of cooperative or neighbourly relations" and interfered with details of governance in a "heavy handed and inflexible" manner that was the primary reason for the political polarisation that ensued, it said.

"Without prejudice to the results of investigation, it is obvious that this atmosphere provided the backdrop for assassination of Hariri," it said.

The report said that the Lebanese security services and the Syrian Military Intelligence bear the "primary responsibility" for the "lack of security, protection and law and order in Lebanon," and charged Lebanese security service with demonstrating "serious and systematic negligence in carrying out its duties."

Citing "testimonials", the report said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad threatened "physical harm" to Hariri and Druze leader Walid Johnblatt if they opposed extension of the term of pro Syrian President Emile Lahoud.