Mehlis report regarded as political message to Syria

After months of investigations, German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis's inquiry into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri has produced "incomplete" conclusions that were not surprising, analysts in the region felt.

"Legally, it is weak. Editorially, it is weak. Its facts are not clear. Had they postponed [the submission of the report], they would have been able to finalise the investigation," he told Gulf News.

The report, which was submitted to the UN security Council late on Thursday, implicated top Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officials in the assassination of Hariri.

"The report essentially carries a political message," Mosali said. "The [UN] report will be employed to change the political direction Syria takes vis-a-vis Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine."

The United States has accused Syria of supporting insurgency in Iraq and Palestinian groups that attack Israel. Syria has denied the American charges.

However, western analysts strongly reject the notion of political message in the report.

Edward Walker, President of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, described such talk as an "insult to Mehlis who has been taking on this very difficult job and doesn't answer to the US".

Moreover, Walker, former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs and former US Ambassador to Egypt and Israel, added "certainly the Germans have not been most avid supporters of the US diplomacy in the region."

He said the coming three months were critical, and would reveal how much the Syrian leadership is willing to cooperate, Walker told Gulf News.

"We have three months to work on that," said Syrian political analyst Thabet Salem.

"If it was proved that somebody is involved, he should be punished. Otherwise, the future course will be rough," he added.