Beirut, 6 Dec. (AKI) - German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis, the head of a UN probe into the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, will leave the post even if the investigation is extended beyond its 15 December deadline. A spokesman for Mehlis who asked not to be identified by name, said on Tuesday that the German prosecutor had indicated when he took on the job in June that he could only committ himself for a period no longer than seven months.


Mehlis would remain "available" to assist the commission of inquiry, but not as a full-time member, the spokesman said. On Tuesday Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak said he expected the commission of inquiry's mandate to be renewed beyond 15 December the date on which Mehlis has to submit his final report to the United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan.

Amman/Brussels, 5 December 2005: The international community must put aside its own agendas and take steps to sustain Lebanon