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Mehlis Report, Op-Eds, Analysis (Constantly Updated)

October 21, 2005 · Mustapha Hamoui

In the same spirit of cooperation, this post is about digging out worthy press OP-EDs, analysis or interpretations of the Mehlis investigation. Of note would also be any official position taken by significant parties. If you find any such relevant articles/scoops, please suggest them in the comments section or email them and I’ll transfer them to the body of the post.
Your help is greatly appreciated.

The New York Times, citing ‘a diplomat with intimate knowledge of the inquiry’, names Assef Shawkat, Bashar Assad’s brother in law as ‘the main suspect’

The diplomat spoke as a long-awaited United Nations report on the killing made public on Thursday said it was a carefully planned terrorist act organized by high-ranking Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officers.
[…]
Though the report did not include names, the diplomat said the investigators were focusing on Syria’s military intelligence chief, Asef Shawkat, the president’s brother-in-law.
“Their main lead is that he is the ringleader,” the diplomat said. “This is where it is heading.”

Hariri-owned Almustaqbal Newspaper calls on the Lebanese youth to visit Hariri’s grave in celebration of “The Day of the Truth”. The event will take place at 8 p.m. Beirut time.

Reactions:
Aljazeera (English) reports on the vehement denials in Syria and Lebanon. You can also read the Arabic version. Naharnet calls the Syrian allies a “5th column” and reports that Ahmad Gebril wants to sue Mr. Mehlis.

More Reactions:
Here’s what the BBC website’s (mostly western) readers think of the report.

Skepticism:
The Angry Arab, a skeptic, provides a cynical reading of the report

More Skepticism:
The Washington Post has a “confidential” version of the report on its website. It features parts that have apparently been deleted in the final version. This is beginning to cast doubts on the objectivity of the report in various circles.