Detlev Mehlis' initial report on the assassination of Rafik Al-Hariri raises new political scenarios in the Middle East. Al-Ahram Weekly provides special in-depth coverage and expert analysis on the various political and legal issues stemming from the investigation's findings Inching closer to the truth There is no smoking gun in the Mehlis report, but many Lebanese are hoping it is one big step towards uncovering the truth, reports Hicham Safieddine If there is one word that has dominated the political discourse of ordinary Lebanese since the assassination of Rafik Al-Hariri, it's the word "truth". The release of the United Nations report on the killing of the former prime minister did not live up to two prior speculations: that it would be damning in its conclusion of who was behind crime, and, on the other hand, that it would bring a seven-month period of uncertainty and instability to an end. Nevertheless, the report's publication has renewed calls for President Emile Lahoud to step down and created a mood of cautious optimism among the Lebanese from all walks of life. "People want to know more, but many are happy that the truth is beginning to surface," 26-year-old university student Hossam Nassif told Al-Ahram Weekly. "The Mehlis report did what it could during the time period, but it will eventually lead to the truth, that is why I support its extension." Nassif, a left-leaning activist, joined hundreds of his fellow citizens last Friday -- the day the report was released -- to support the efforts of the international investigative team and the extension of its mandate. A similar crowd gathered the day after to reiterate these views. The mood of moderate enthusiasm was also reflected in the statements made by various political leaders in the country. In a televised speech over the weekend, Al-Hariri's son and head of the largest parliamentary bloc Saad Al-Hariri praised the report but warned of any attempt to turn it into a diplomatic weapon in political fights unrelated to the crime. Druze leader Walid Jumblatt also commented positively on the report. But he said he would oppose any sanctions imposed on Syria, which would ultimately hurt the Syrian people. Instead, he called for punishing individuals found guilty of the crime. Lebanese MP Elias Atallah told the Weekly that one of the most encouraging features of the report from a Lebanese point of view is that it does not implicate directly or indirectly any of the main Lebanese political parties, including Hizbullah. "I think this fact shows that the report is not politicised as some would claim," said Atallah, who is a leading figure in the Democratic Left, a nascent leftist movement that took part in the anti-Syrian coalition of forces formed in the wake of Al-Hariri's killing. But one top Lebanese political figure who landed in the hot seat by the report's findings was Lahoud. The report's main line of investigation that is based on fact and does not stem from witness statements or analysis which are easily politicised centres on a flurry of phone calls made in the run up to the explosion that targeted Al-Hariri's convoy on 14 February. Some of these phone calls involve a high profile member of the Al-Ahbash Islamist group. According to Detlev Mehlis, a call was made from a mobile phone belonging to Abdul- Aal to one of the president's phones minutes before the assassination took place. He was arrested over the weekend. Presidential palace spokesperson Rafik Shlala has denied any involvement of the president in such a call and told the press the line is used to receive calls from the public for all sorts of purposes. Still, the report's mention of this phone call has fuelled suspicion that Lahoud is somehow implicated in the plot to kill Al-Hariri. Atallah says the president is a symbol of the Lebanese- Syrian intelligence apparatus whose leading figures are heavily suspected of masterminding the assassination in the report. "Lahoud's resignation is long overdue regardless of the accuracy of the details cited in the report," Atallah said. Prime Minister Fouad Al-Siniora has also suggested the president step down. But it is unclear if the battle for the presidency is going to be unleashed any time soon given that Lahoud has survived past bids to unseat him. His fate may eventually end up being linked to that of Syria. The United States was keen on citing the report as further cause for attacking the Syrian regime. Syria in return accused the report of bias and negligence of the Syrian point of view. Thousands of Syrians took to the streets on Monday to protest against the report's findings and the US campaign against their country. With all eyes riveted on the Security Council as it considers imposing sanctions on Syria, the current drive in Lebanon to uncover the truth in isolation of political pressures from all sides may be overshadowed by the political battles between its neighbour and the world's superpower. While Mehlis's team mandate expires on 15 December, Secretary-General Kofi Annan expressed the willingness of the international body to extend the team's mission beyond that date if necessary with the blessing of the Lebanese government. That could be an indication that the jury is still out on Syria. According to the report's own admission, the finger pointing at Syria is a long way from becoming a smoking gun able to win the case in a court of law, whose mandate and make-up is a contentious issue among the Lebanese. As the report says in one of its early paragraphs: "Until the investigation is completed, all new leads and evidence are fully analysed, and independent and impartial prosecution mechanism is set up, one cannot know the complete story of what happened... therefore the presumption of innocence stands." For many Lebanese, this means the "truth" remains elusive, but the 1000 mile trip to discover it is worthwhile.
