[JURIST] Top UN investigator Detlev Mehlis on Thursday turned a report over to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri [JURIST news archive]. Annan is expected to send a copy of the report to the UN Security Council [official website] and to Lebanese leaders on Friday. The UN launched the investigation [JURIST report] in May after determining that Lebanon's inquiry into Hariri's murder was "seriously flawed." Lebanon has increased security and temporarily banned the issuance of gun licenses as anticipation grows over the release of the report, which diplomats and officials claim will implicate both Lebanese and Syrian officials. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad [BBC profile] has claimed Syria is "100% innocent" and was uninvolved in the murder. US Ambassador to the UN John Bolton [official profile] said Washington is consulting with other Western governments on possible follow-up measures that the Security Council may implement following the report's release. AP has more.