[JURIST] As preparations continue [JURIST report] to establish a tribunal to prosecute those accused of killing former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri [JURIST news archive], UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday said that a mixed tribunal, with both international and Lebanese participation, is necessary to ensure that justice is done in the case. He noted particularly that Hariri's murder has led to ongoing political and economic turmoil in Lebanon. Annan's recommendation is part of a larger report [PDF text] on the ongoing investigation of the Hariri murder, which was published in response to Security Council Resolution 1644 [PDF text] requesting that the Secretary-General help the Lebanese government identify what sort of international support will be required to ensure that those responsible for Hariri's murder are brought to justice.

A UN investigation team [UN backgrounder] has worked for nearly 10 months to identify those responsible for the killings. The current chief investigator, Serge Brammertz, is optimistic that Syria's recent decision to cooperate in the probe will help the investigation run more smoothly. AP has more. The UN News Centre provides additional coverage.