The Syrian People's Assembly ( parliament) on Saturday echoed the government's stance on a UN report on a probe into the death of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, slamming it as "not credible, contradicting and having many legal and professional violations."

The parliament voiced the criticism in a statement following a study by its special committee of lawyers and judges on the report, which the committee termed as "political rather than legal."

The statement accuses the international investigation committee of putting a supposition in advance, saying the report serves Israel's interest as the Jewish state is the "only beneficiary."

"It accused Syria without disclosing the whole story of how Hariri was assassinated despite the fact the report says all suspects are innocent unless proved otherwise in a fair trail. This confirms that the report is contradicting," the statement said.

The report, presented by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlis after months of investigations, found "converging evidence" of both Syrian and Lebanese involvement in the killing of Hariri in a massive car bomb in Beirut on Feb. 14.

The Syrian government has denied any involvement in the murder and dismissed the report as politically motivated.

Syria said on Saturday it will set up its own inquiry commission in cooperation with the UN probe into Hariri's death.

The United States and France circulated a draft resolution in the UN Security Council on Tuesday, threatening to impose economic sanctions against Damascus if it fails to fully cooperate with the probe.

Syria withdrew its troops and intelligence agents from Lebanon in late April under growing international pressure after Hariri's death sparked widespread anti-Syrian protests in Lebanon.

Source: Xinhua