UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said on Tuesday that it's up to the Security Council to decide whether to broaden the investigation on the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, as requested by the Lebanese government.

    Speaking to reporters at the UN headquarters in New York, Annan said he had discussed with Lebanon's leaders the possibility of expanding the UN independent investigation into the assassination of Hariri to include other murders.

    "It is an issue that the council should take up," he said.

    "It is an issue that we should allow the Council to deliberate,to discuss carefully, and to decide what decision to take, whether it wants it to take on the six previous assassinations, including the one of yesterday, in addition to Hariri's or draw the line somewhere," he added.

    He was referring to Monday's fatal attack against Lebanon's politician and journalist Gibran Tueni.

    "I would urge the Lebanese to go ahead with the management of their affairs, to take charge of their own state and sovereignty, and to remain united as they work for the future of Lebanon," Annan noted.

    On the same occasion, the UN chief also confirmed that he was working as quickly as possible to find a replacement for Detlev Mehlis, who has led the investigation into Hariri's death since May.

    Mehlis, a veteran German prosecutor, has recommended a six-month extension of the probe commission's mandate but indicated that he would not be available to lead it.

    "I hope, if all goes well, that I should be able to name someone in the next week or two," he said. "In the meantime, I've taken measures to ensure that we don't have a break and there's continuity in the work of the commission until a successor assumes his or her responsibilities." Enditem