Syria risks further UN Security Council action unless it steps up cooperation with the probe into the murder of ex-Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri, a US envoy warned on Saturday, sparking a furious reaction from Damascus. âSyria must cease obstructing the investigation into the assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and must cooperate unconditionallyâ with the UN probe, said David Welch, the US pointman for the Middle East. âThe United States calls upon the Syrian regime to respond positively to the requests... If Syrian obstruction continues we will not hesitate to refer this matter back to the Security Council.âThe UN commission of inquiry probing the murder of Hariri in a February 14 Beirut bomb blast and the United States have repeatedly demanded Syria steps up its cooperation. The probe asked to interview President Bashar al-Assad but no response has been forthcoming.
| I thought he'd said "no" already? He was washing his hair that day, or something... |
âThe declarations of Mr Welch are a new attempt aimed at increasing the morale of anti-Syrian forces who are opposed to the stability of Lebanon,â said a Syrian official, quoted by the state news agency Sana. âThe objective of such declarations is to increase the pressure on Syria which is calling for stability and global peace.â
Welchâs call echoed similar comments by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earlier in the week, who said Washington intends âto refer this matter back to the Security Council if Syrian obstruction continues.â Speaking after meeting Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, Welch said the US would reject any âdeals or compromisesâ that would relieve Syria of its obligations, adding that the investigation must be taken to its âultimate conclusionsâ.
âWe firmly believe that Syria must cease its interference, including through the use of local proxies, in Lebanonâs internal affairs,â he said. Welch earlier met with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir but has pointedly not arranged talks with pro-Damascus President Emile Lahoud, Lebanese officials said. His visit was marked by anti-US demonstrations led by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah which prompted the use of tear gas and water cannon by police.