(c) The Mission can say with certainty that parts of a truck were brought to the scene of the explosion by a member of the security forces some time after the assassination and were placed in the crater and subsequently photographed in the crater by members of the security forces, thus creating serious suspicion and doubt about the actual involvement of this truck in the assassination and seriously damaging the credibility of the main line of investigation. This line of enquiry is now fundamentally damaged, entailing credibility issues and scope for legal challenge.
47. In sum, the manner in which this element of the investigation was carried out displays, at least, gross negligence, possibly accompanied by criminal actions for which those responsible should be made accountable.
General assessment of investigation
48. Apart from the deficiencies already indicated above, the Mission has noted the following flaws in the Lebanese investigation process:
(a) There was a serious disconnect between the senior members of the local security force investigation team;
(b) There was a lack of coordination between the security force investigation team and the investigating Judges;
(c) There was a lack of focus and control by the senior management responsible for the overall investigation of the crime;
(d) There was a lack of professionalism in the overall crime investigation techniques employed;
(e) There was a total absence of intelligence information and little or no exchange of information among the various agencies engaged in the investigation;
(f) There was an absence of both technical capability and equipment necessary for such an investigation.
49. Based on all of the above, it is the Mission’s conclusion that there was a distinct lack of commitment to investigating the crime effectively, and that the investigation was not carried out in accordance with acceptable international standards. The Mission is also of the view that the local investigation has neither the capacity nor the commitment to succeed. It also lacks the confidence of the population necessary for its results to be accepted.
C. Consequences
50. The assassination of Mr. Hariri had an earthquake-like impact on Lebanon. Shock, disbelief, and anxiety were the most common reactions among the people with whom we spoke — shock at the thought that what many considered to have been practices of the past seemed to be coming back; disbelief at the murder of a man whom people regarded as a "larger than life" figure; and anxiety that Lebanon might be sliding back towards chaos and civil strife as a result of that "earthquake". These feelings quickly fused into a strong and unified outcry for "the truth". All those who talked to the Mission indicated that uncovering the truth about the assassination of Mr. Hariri had become their utmost priority and that peace and
