Syria has dismissed as false and "completely political" a United Nations report linking some of its top intelligence officials to the February assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
U.N. investigator Detlev Mehlis issued a 54-page report Thursday, saying the assassination was planned over many months. It implicates, among others, Syria's military intelligence chief Asef Shawkat, who is the brother-in-law of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
In Beirut, anti-Syrian legislators hailed the findings and renewed their calls for Lebanese President Emile Lahoud - a close ally of Syria - to resign.
Mr. Mehlis' report says President Lahoud received a telephone call from a suspect in Mr. Hariri's assassination shortly before it occurred. The president's office has denied the accusation and says he has no intention of stepping down.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has extended the investigation until December 15.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.