Sky News: Al-Assad assures full cooperation with UN inquiry
Syria-Lebanon-UN, Politics, 3/17/2006

Syria's President Bashar al Assad told Sky News assured that he will cooperate with the UN's investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri.

In an exclusive interview with Sky News's James Rubin, President al-Assad said the UN team would be visiting Syria soon.

He said "We will support any investigation surrounding this crime. " The president said he would meet the head and deputy of the UN team in April, when they would be able to "ask him anything."

UN investigators have said this week they were closer to a detailed understanding of how the assassination plot was carried out. Al-Assad also told Sky News his country was doing everything in its power to stop insurgents crossing its borders into Iraq.

He said: "We do what we can for ourselves to control the borders, not for them but for us.. The insurgents who kill civilians, they harm Syria."

President al-Assad said he believed the occupying forces should leave Iraq as soon as possible. "We support the political process in Iraq, it is very important for stability regardless of the constitution, for them to have independence."

Regarding reform in Syria he insisted the country was focusing on security and economic measures before politics.

He insisted there exists freedom of speech in the country for citizens to criticize the government, but not to "harm" the country, Sky News said.

Previous Stories:
  Syrian president to meet Hariri assassination investigators   (3/16/2006)
  UN report on Hariri murder, part 1 full text   (3/16/2006)
  Syria welcomes UN report on Hariri assassination   (3/16/2006)

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