But
Interior Minister Suleiman Franjieh, who also met
with the team, insisted the UN team would operate
"under the guidance and assistance of the Lebanese
authorities."
He
said: "They will be allowed to visit the crime
scene, but they will be accompanied by the Lebanese
authorities; and Brigadier General Ashraf Reify
will be the link between the Interior Ministry and
the UN team."
Sources
close to the UN team indicated they were "satisfied"
with their meetings with the Lebanese officials.
Addoum
said: "We have agreed with the international
team over a work plan, which agrees with the principles
that Lebanon had set in its response letter to the
secretary general."
He
added: "Our response was that the Lebanese
authorities are the only ones, which have the jurisdiction
in conducting the investigation."
Addoum
said: "The UN team will not be allowed to conduct
investigations or question people, because this
falls under the jurisdiction of the Lebanese authorities."
The
UN team arrived in Lebanon on Thursday night.
It
consists of Peter Fitzgerald, as the head of the
mission, and includes people from the Garda Siochana,
the Irish national police force, Martin Donnellan,
chief superintendent and head of the national bureau
of criminal investigation, and Patrick Leahy, superintendent
and head of national support services.
According
to a statement made by Fitzgerald on Friday morning,
the mission "will be joined shortly by colleagues
with expertise in law and political affairs."
Fitzgerald
mistakenly said in a statement on Friday that his
team was in Lebanon to "fulfill the Security
Council's request to report urgently on the killing
of former Prime Minister Hariri and 14 others."
In
fact, 18 people died in the blast including the
slain premier.
Also
in his statement, Fitzgerald said that he was looking
forward to working closely with the Lebanese authorities,
and to learn about their progress in investigating
this "terrible crime."
He
also assured, "all concerned" that the
team "will work with absolute impartiality
and professionalism."
Lebanese
Premier Omar Karami said the UN team "has to
respect Lebanon's sovereignty and the independence
of its judiciary."
He
said: "They can aid in gathering facts but
the judiciary
investigations
held by Lebanon should remain intact."
Meanwhile,
Lebanon's Chief Investigating Judge Michael Abu
Arraj said he will question Fadi Khoury, the owner
of the Saint George Yacht Club, who is embroiled
in a row with Beirut MP Mohammed Qabbani over the
existence of a tunnel under the area where the blast
occurred.
Khoury
has denied such a tunnel exists despite allegations
by Qabbani, who insists he has documentary proof
of its existence.
Arraj
will also meet with Hariri's surviving bodyguards
and other witnesses.
Addoum
said the Swiss team of explosives experts were due
to arrive soon, but failed to specify a date.
He
said: "They will have a primary role when they
explore the crime site because they might observe
things
that
the Lebanese experts
have
missed."
He
added: "The investigation will remain secret,
because any word that goes out might be wrongfully
understood or explained."
