Kassir''s assassination referred to judicial council

KUN0109 4 GEN 0164 KUWAIT /KUNA-NTD8 MIL-LEBANON-BLAST-JUDICIARY Kassir's assassination referred to judicial council BEIRUT, June 2 (KUNA) -- Lebanese Ministerial Council decided on Thursday referring the assassination case of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir to the Judicial Council authorizing the justice minister to seek assistance from a local or foreign body capable of conducting investigation into the case. The decision came at a meeting that grouped Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and ministers. Minister of Justice Khalid Qabani and Minister of Interior Hassan Al-Saba' presented, during the meeting, available information concerning the explosion. The blast resulted in killing Kassir on the spot in the populated district of Ashrafieh, eastern Beirut. Al-Saba' said, at a news conference, preliminary invetigations indicated that a 500-700 grams bomb was planted in Kassir's car. The minister believed that the blast was detonated from a distance. (end) an.ma KUNA 022244 Jun 05NNNN