Lebanese President Emile Lahoud on Friday denied his involvement, claimed by a UN report on Thursday, in the assassination of former prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

According to a UN report issued on Thursday evening, Lahoud had received a phone call from a suspect just minutes before the bomb blast on Feb. 14 that killed Hariri and 20 other people.

A statement issued by Lahoud's office Friday denied the report's claims, describing the phone call claims as "without any foundation".

"These allegations are aimed at tarnishing the presidency," said the statement, adding that "President Lahoud will continue to fulfill his duties in line with the constitution."

The UN report also linked Syria with the murder of Hariri and called on the Syrian authorities to cooperate with investigators.

"There is converging evidence pointing at both Lebanese and Syrian involvement in this terrorist act," said the report.

However, Syrian Information Minister Mehdi Dakhlullah on Friday described remarks in the UN report as "100 percent politically biased".

In an interview with the Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV network, Dakhlullah said "it is a political statement against Syria based on allegations by witnesses known for their hostility to Syria."

He said that "the (UN) report is far from the truth. It was not professional and will not arrive at the truth but will be part of a deception and great tension in this region."

Hariri was killed in a car bomb blast in Beirut on Feb. 14. Many Lebanese have blamed Syria and the Lebanese authorities under President Lahoud for the murder, but both Damascus and its Lebanese allies have denied any role.

The killing sparked massive anti-Syrian protests and led to Syrian troops' withdrawal from neighboring Lebanon in April after 39 years of military presence.

German prosecutor Mehlis was appointed in May by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to lead an independent inquiry team to carry out intensive investigations in both Lebanon and Syria.

Last month, Mehlis named the heads of Lebanese intelligence and security agencies as suspects in the case of Hariri assassination.

Mehlis will brief the 15-nation UN Security Council on the investigation next Tuesday.

Source: Xinhua