U.N. envoy says he warned Hariri
UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- A U.N. special envoy says he warned former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri about a "very high risk for violence and assassinations" just days before Hariri was killed in Monday's deadly bomb blast.
U.N. special envoy Terje Roed-Larsen told CNN he met Hariri for dinner last Thursday and spoke "explicitly" about his concerns of violence.
The risk apparently stemmed from a controversial U.N. resolution calling on Syrian troops to leave Lebanon, he said.
Roed-Larsen was in the region meeting with Lebanese and Syrian officials about U.N. Resolution 1559, which calls for the withdrawal of an estimated 13,000 Syrian troops from Lebanon and the removal of Syria's intelligence apparatus.
"My conclusion after the visit was that there was a high degree of chance that there might be violence, and I spoke explicitly to this with Mr. Hariri, who I worked very well with," Roed-Larsen said.
Asked why he felt there was such a risk for violence, he said, "1559 is a highly controversial Security Council resolution, and there are very strong opinions about it in both Lebanon and, of course, in Syria," he said.
"And the rhetoric which the parties have been using there indicated very clearly to absolutely everybody who's been observing it that the chances for violent acts were very high."
He said he had a "general message to everybody" involved to refrain from violence.
"I had some very strong words to all parties concerned -- not falling into temptations of behavior of violence and, also as I phrased it, 'thuggish' language."
Roed-Larsen said that at the time he left the region, there was a possibility for renewing dialogue between the Lebanese opposition, which wants Syria out, and the Syrian government.
He said the U.N. office helped facilitate talks between the parties and they were to continue this week, including meetings that were to involve Hariri, a moderate opposition voice.
"All parties concerned agreed to lower their rhetoric and not to heat things up," he said.
"But then, unfortunately, Mr. Hariri was savagely murdered."
Hariri and 16 others were killed Monday in a massive bomb explosion that shattered nearby buildings and littered streets with mangled vehicles and other debris.
An investigation has been launched into who carried out the bombing, but some opposition leaders have put the blame on Syria, which backs the pro-Syrian Lebanese government and opposed U.N. Resolution 1559.
Imad Moustapha, the Syrian ambassador to the United States, said the Syrian government had no role in the bombing, and he called Hariri a constructive moderate.
"Why would Syria even look with hostility to a person like Rafik Hariri, who is actually helping to mediate between us and the Lebanese opposition?" he asked CNN.
Roed-Larsen said he is committed to seeing the resolution through to its implementation.
"My work as the secretary-general's envoy has been difficult, is difficult and will remain difficult in the future," he said.
"1559 is a fact and, as all Security Council resolutions, it has to be implemented."
