A United Nations team has arrived in Lebanon to investigate the murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

He and 16 other people were killed in a massive bombing Feb. 14 in Beirut.

Lebanese opposition leaders say the country's Damascus-backed government and Syria are to blame – a charge they both deny.

Ireland's deputy police commissioner, Peter Fitzgerald in Lebanon, Friday.

The UN team is headed by Ireland's deputy police commissioner Peter Fitzgerald, who said in a statement that he will meet with Lebanese officials and "others who might assist us" in the mission. He pledged that "we will work with absolute impartiality and professionalism."

The government rejected a demand by the United States, France and the Hariri family for a international inquiry. Still, Beruit has said it will co-operate with investigators.

Meanwhile, there's still no movement on Thursday's announcement by Syria that it would begin to withdraw troops in accordance with the 1989 agreement that ended the 1975-1990 civil war.

Syria moved soldiers into Lebanon in 1976, and at one point had 35,000 troops in the country. It now has 15,000 soldiers there. Damascus has pledged repeatedly throughout the years to withdraw even further, but has so far taken no action.

Near the Syrian base outside Aley, just east of Beirut, Lebanese paint shop owner Hael Maan said he had no faith in the Syrian withdrawal promises.

"Even if I see them withdrawing, I wouldn't believe my eyes. Every time we hear that they are withdrawing, but they never go. They are always here," the 52-year-old Maan told the Associated Press. "My feeling is the same as the feeling of every Lebanese citizen – we are tired (of the situation) and we want to live in stable conditions."