[JURIST] Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday called for evidence implicating Syrians in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri [JURIST news archive] to be scrutinized in the wake of an admission by Syrian witness, Hosam Taher Hosam, that he testified falsely [JURIST report] to the UN committee investigating the murder [UN materials]. Hosam accused Lebanese officials of conspiring with threats, bribery and torture to induce him to falsely testify against Syria, and said the inquiry's interim findings rested as much as 40 percent on his lies. The Syrian statement suggested that the October interim report [text] by chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis was flawed by reliance on Hosam's testimony, and Syria has effectively endorsed Hosam's statement, allowing him air time on television last Sunday and arranging a news conference for him Monday. Reuters has more.