The family of slain former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri called Thursday for an international commission to be formed to investigate his assassination. The Hariri family demand is in contrast to the stance of the Lebanese government, which opposes a foreign-led investigation into Monday's bombing that killed the billionaire tycoon and 16 others. It has however requested foreign investigators, including Swiss, to assist in the inquiry. "We call upon the international community to promptly take control of this issue and form an international investigation commission, since the assassination of Rafik Hariri is a terrorist act targeting Lebanon's stability and national unity," said a statement released by Hariri's family. The statement, released a day after more than 200,000 mourners attended Hariri's burial, said: "The bastions of welfare, nationalism and humanitarian work that Rafik Hariri established will not be closed because of the crime committed by a bunch of criminals." "We will not spare any effort or means to find the perpetrators of this crime no matter what their affiliation is," it added. French President Jacques Chirac, a close Hariri friend, has also called for an international investigation, while the United Nations Security Council and the United States have demanded the Lebanese government urgently investigate the killing and bring the culprits to justice.
