[JURIST] UN International Independent Investigation Commission (IIIC) [authorizing resolution; UN materials] head Serge Brammertz [ICC profile; JURIST news archive] told the UN Security Council Wednesday that unspecified "persons of interest" have been identified and other progress has been made in the international investigation into the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri [JURIST news archive]. In June, the Security Council expanded [JURIST report] the Hariri probe to include 17 other attempted or successful political assassinations in Lebanon. Brammertz said Wednesday that "operational links may exist" between the perpetrators of each of these attacks.

On Wednesday, the UN Security Council [official website] unanimously approved [press release; JURIST report] Brammertz's appointment to serve as the new chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) [official website]. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon nominated Brammertz [JURIST report] earlier this month to replace outgoing chief prosecutor Carla Del Ponte [official profile], who will step down at the end of the year. Former Canadian Deputy Attorney General Daniel Bellemare [Ya Libnan profile; JURIST report ] was selected to replace Brammertz as head of the Hariri investigation earlier this month. AP has more.