UNITED NATIONS, April 7: The UN Security Council voted on Thursday to set up an international inquiry into the assassination of Lebanese former premier Rafik Hariri. The move could increase international pressure on Syria, which has been accused by the Lebanese opposition of responsibility for the February 14 suicide car bomb attack which killed Hariri and 14 other people.

The resolution, initially sponsored by the United States, Britain and France, was adopted unanimously. Five other countries signed on as co-sponsors ahead of the vote.

The commission was to report back its findings to the UN after three months.

A UN fact-finding report last month pointed the finger at neighbouring Syria over the killing of Hariri, who spoke out against Syrian dominance of his country.

Among other charges, the report said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had threatened physical harm against Hariri over his opposition to Damascus, and it called for an international investigation.

It said that the Lebanese probe into the massive bomb blast that killed Hariri had been flawed.—AFP