Syrian president denies involvement in Hariri killing

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied on Wednesday that his country was involved with the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Hariri, according to CNN.

In a rare interview with CNN, Assad also denied that he could have ordered such an assassination, saying "this is against our principle and my principle. I would never do it. It's impossible."

Hariri was killed in a massive car bombing in Beirut in February, which has sparked massive anti-Syrian protests and led to Syrian troops' withdrawal from Lebanon in late April after 29 years of military presence.

Many Lebanese blamed Syria and its Lebanese allies for Hariri's assassination, but Damascus has denied any role.

Assad was quoted as saying that any Syrians who were concluded involvement by the UN investigation committee would be regarded as traitors and charged with treason.

"If indeed there is a Syrian national implicated in it, he would be considered as a traitor and most severely punished. If they're not punished internationally, they will be punished in Syria," added the president.

Assad's statements in the interview with CNN came shortly before reports about Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan's suicide.

Kanaan, Syria's former military intelligence chief in Lebanon for two decades from 1982 to 2002, committed suicide at his office on Wednesday morning, reported the official SANA news agency.

Kanaan died three weeks after UN investigation team carried out a secret inquiry in Syria and days before the release of the UN report on it. He was believed to be among senior Syrian officials who were questioned during the inquiry.

Earlier this year, the US treasury announced a freeze on the assets of Kanaan. The Lebanese Central Bank also opened up the accounts of Kanaan to the UN investigators last month.

Source: Xinhua