Video appears to show Hariri convoy before blast
Images assist U.N. investigation of Beirut explosion
 |  The white pickup truck (circled) was seen moving across the screen at a quarter the speed of other vehicles. |
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 A new videotape sheds light on Hariri's assassination.
 U.N. report on Hariri's death criticizes Syrian security forces.
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BEIRUT, Lebanon (CNN) -- An Arabic-language satellite channel has broadcast a videotape that it said showed images recorded seconds before the explosion that killed former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in February.
The 90-second tape was broadcast on the al-Arabiya news network, which said it was recorded by a nearby bank security camera.
On it, a white pickup truck -- moving at about a quarter the speed of surrounding vehicles -- enters into camera range; moments later, the camera records what appear to be the final movements of Hariri's doomed convoy of black vehicles.
A flash occurs, and then the images halt abruptly -- presumably the result of the blast that occurred February 14 in downtown Beirut. The explosion killed 20 people, including Hariri.
The tape does not capture the detonation itself, but the footage of the truck is considered a vital lead by investigators from the United Nations, which last week completed a 19-page report on the blast. (Full story)
The U.N. team said it thought the blast may have been caused by the explosion of about 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of TNT carried in a 1995 or 1996 Mitsubishi truck.
A U.N. spokesman confirmed that the video shown by the network was the same one the investigative team has taken back to U.N. headquarters in New York. The report says that the vehicle would have reached the site of where the detonation occurred 69 seconds before the Hariri convoy reached the same location.
"It is estimated that if the pickup truck had continued its journey at the same speed without stopping, it would still have been affected by the force of the blast and would most probably have remained at the scene after the explosion," the report said.
"In order to have avoided the explosion, this pickup truck would have had to speed up considerably, immediately after going out of view of the ... camera. There is no evidence to support this."
United Nations investigators say their line of inquiry has been damaged by gross negligence and possible criminal behavior of Lebanese security forces, who are suspected of planting evidence inside the bomb crater.
The U.N. report concluded: "Syria bears primary responsibility for the political tension that preceded the assassination of former Prime Minister Mr. Hariri.
"The government of Syria clearly exerted influence that goes beyond the reasonable exercise of cooperative or neighborly relations. It interfered with the details of governance in Lebanon in a heavy-handed and inflexible manner that was the primary reason for the political polarization that ensued."
The U.N. fact-finding team presented its report Thursday.
Sunday, Lebanese security forces were investigating a bombing in the capital that came just hours before the traditional Easter midnight Mass. Up to eight people were reported injured. (Full story)
Not since the years of civil war has Beirut suffered a similar wave of bomb blasts -- three in eight days have targeted predominantly Christian districts on the outskirts of the capital.
U.S. officials have said they are concerned the attacks could intensify.
"The United States has condemned in the strongest possible terms these acts of violence and intimidation," U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield said.
"They are aimed directly at the people of Lebanon, and I think the people of Lebanon are confident in their ability to proceed in a manner that tells those responsible they will not be frightened," he said.
Meanwhile, Syrian forces continue a gradual withdrawal -- a key opposition demand -- abandoning more positions in eastern Lebanon. But the spate of bombings, coinciding with the troop movements, has unnerved many Lebanese.
About 2,000 Syrian troops have pulled out of eastern Lebanon over the past week, a senior Lebanese security source told Reuters on Monday.
The source said small units in the eastern Bekaa Valley were going home, leaving behind the 10th division of the Syrian army entrenched in the area as well as scores of intelligence agents, Reuters reported.
A Syrian-Lebanese military committee is due to meet next week to set a timeline for withdrawing the remaining forces.
Syria began pulling its 14,000 troops to the Bekaa Valley near the border March 8, and vowed to bring all the troops and intelligence officials across the border into Syria.
Many opposition members contend that the violence is part of a Syria-backed conspiracy to undermine security and weaken their drive to free Lebanon from Syrian control.
Hariri's assassination provoked outrage over Syria's influence, setting off extensive demonstrations.
Many Lebanese believe Syria was behind the killing, and Prime Minister Omar Karami and his government resigned February 28 under intense pressure.
But he was reappointed by parliament to bring together opposition and loyalist politicians in a Cabinet to lead Lebanon to general elections scheduled for May.
President Emile Lahoud, a staunch Syrian ally, urged Lebanese to unite to save the country.
CNN's Brent Sadler contributed to this report.
