Syrian FM reasserts cooperation with UN probe

Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al- Shara reasserted on Wednesday that his country will continue cooperation with a UN probe into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, the official SANA news agency reported.

"Syria will continue cooperation with the international investigation committee to fulfill its mission in order to uncover the truth and not to use the investigation as a political tool," Shara was quoted as saying while meeting with visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul.

For his part, Gul said that Turkey is determined to exert more efforts to maintain stability and avoid new tensions in the region.

The two men also discussed the mission of the international committee following UN Security Council Resolution 1636 and exchanged views on the latest developments in the region, SANA said.

Gul arrived here Wednesday afternoon for a short visit.

The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1636 on Oct. 31, demanding Syria fully cooperate with the probe or face " further action."

Chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis submitted an interim report to the United Nations on Oct. 20 which implicated Syrian involvement in the killing of Hariri in a massive car bomb blast in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Feb. 14.

Syria rejected the allegation as politically motivated.

Source: Xinhua