A German newspaper, the Zu Deutsche Zeitung says that the Detlev Mehlis investigation into the murderof Rafiq Al-Hariri will let Bashar Al-Assad off the hook.

According to the paper, no Syrianwill be implicated. Allof the blame will rest on the shoulders of the four Lebanese officials arrested last month.

It comes amid mounting leaks that the Mehlis investigation will not reward Bush with the golden bullet he is looking for.

Also today, it was revealed that the PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine) movement is to be expelled from Damascus - they are set to move to Gaza. That has been a key demand of the Bush administration.