The body of Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan was laid to rest Thursday in his hometown, in a low-key ceremony one day after his apparent suicide in Damascus.
Hours before the burial in the northern town of Bhamra, Damascus Attorney General Muhammad al-Louji said a state probe showed that General Kanaan died after shooting himself in the mouth with his own handgun.
Mr. al-Louji said the determination was made after forensic examinations and a search of the minister's Damascus office, where the shooting occurred.
The death of General Kanaan - Syria's top official in Lebanon for 20 years - came weeks after he was questioned by prosecutors probing the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
United Nations prosecutor Detlev Mehlis was expected to complete his investigation later this month. But Thursday, Lebanon formally asked the world body to extend the probe to December 15.
Syria has repeatedly denied any role in the February 14 assassination.
Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.