Syria: Syria said yesterday it was questioning six Syrian officials who had been summoned to Beirut by UN investigators probing the killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.
The interrogation of the officials effectively prevents them from going to Lebanon for questioning by the UN team until the Syrian panel dismisses them. Syria has denied any involvement in Hariri's death.
"They are expected to stay in Syria until the interrogation is concluded," Ibrahim al-Darraji, spokesman for the Syrian panel, said.
He did not name the six but a Lebanese source has said they included Syrian president Bashar al-Assad's brother-in-law, Maj Gen Asef Shawkat.
Earlier, the official news agency Sana said Syria had invited a UN investigator to Damascus to discuss co-operation with an investigation into the assassination of Hariri.
Syria last month dismissed a UN report implicating its officials in the bombing that killed Hariri, saying it was politically motivated. A security council resolution demanded Syria co-operate fully with the investigation or face unspecified action.
"We propose the signing of a memorandum of understanding with your committee to achieve the desired co-operation," Ghada Murad, head of the Syrian panel set up in October to investigate the killing, said in a letter to UN investigator Detlev Mehlis.
Mr Murad, also Syria's general prosecutor, told Mr Mehlis the panel was ready "for full co-operation and co-ordination with [ the UN] to find the truth that we all seek".
Sana said the letter was sent to Mr Mehlis on Tuesday. UN officials in New York say they were aware of the Syrian invitation but had no comment.
Maj Gen Shawkat, head of Syria's military intelligence, was among 10 Syrian officials interviewed in Damascus by the UN team in September. His name appeared in Mr Mehlis's report to the security council last month.
Mr Assad will address the nation in a televised speech today, in which he is expected to declare his desire to work with the UN probe and push ahead with political reforms.
Arab League secretary general Amr Moussa said yesterday after meeting Mr Assad and foreign minister Farouq al-Shara he was optimistic about Syria's co-operation with UN investigators.
In Beirut, a Lebanese political source said Damascus appeared willing to co-operate with Mr Mehlis but was seeking an understanding on details of the questioning. - (Reuters)