The United Nations (UN) committee investigating former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri's murder had not yet received an official response from Damascus about demands to interrogate Syrian officials in Lebanon, a visiting top UN official said on Wednesday.

"(UN Commission chief Detlev Mehlis) has submitted a request to Syria and is still awaiting a response," UN under-secretary-general Ibrahim Gambari told a joint press conference in Beirut with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.

Mehlis reportedly wants to interview six top Syrian security officials at the panel's offices in Monteverde, east of Beirut, over Hariri's killing in a bomb blast in February.

Gambari stressed that Syria must respond to the request. "Let's give Syria and Mehlis the time needed to find a solution," said the UN official. "I think he has not received an official response (from Syria) yet."

"Syria has no other choice but to cooperate with the enquiry," said Gambari, noting that the UN Security Council resolution required Damascus to fully and unconditionally cooperate with Mehlis in the probe.

UN Security Council Resolution 1636, which was passed unanimously over two weeks ago, demands Syria fully cooperate with the probe and detain anyone considered a suspect by UN investigators or face "further action."

Regarding the distrust harbored by some Syrian leaders and pro-Syrian Lebanese parties toward Mehlis, Gambari said, the United Nations trusts Mehlis and regards him as an impartial and professional judge.

Gambari arrived here late Sunday for a four-day visit, during which he met with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Foreign Minister Fawzi Salloukh and other leaders as well as the UN representative in Lebanon.

Source: Xinhua