It is to a large degree because of Mr. Shawkat 's position at the center of Syrian authority that the government finds itself backed into a corner by a United Nations investigation of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri of Lebanon .
Rafik Hariri /people/person/nationality Lebanon
PRP VBZ TO DT JJ NN IN IN NNP NNP POS NN IN DT NN IN JJ NN IN DT NN VBZ PRP VBD IN DT NN IN DT NNP NNPS NN IN DT NN IN JJ NNP NNP NNP NNP IN NNP .
Rafik Hariri
PERSON
Lebanon
LOCATION
/people/person/nationality