Syrian criticism, American commandment of the UN report over Hariri assassination

Damascus has described the reports of the UN fact finding mission over the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri of being fragrantly biased.

The Syrian representative at the UN Faisal Miqdad said that the report listened to the views of one side of the Lebanese, in remarks to the opposition, and did not take into account the views of other political sides.

Concerning what the report stated that Damascus is considered responsible for the tension which preceded the assassination phase of al-Hariri, al-Miqdad said in a telephone call interview with al-Jazeera that what had raised atmospheres of tension in Lebanon is UN Security Council resolution 1559 rather than the Syrian presence.

The Syrian diplomat indicated that the Hariri was an ally to his country's government and that he was "like other Lebanese leaders an ally to Syria, noting the role played by Syria in halting the war in Lebanon.

Washington praised the report of the fact finding commission. One official at the US Department Of State who asked to be anonymous said that his country appreciates what was stated by the report on the need of making an independent investigation on the conditions of the Hariri assassination.