Damascus criticizes escalated US pressure

Damascus has criticized the escalated American pressures concerning the investigations of the UN committee into the murder of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, after Washington's official demands from Syria to permit the interrogation of President Bashar al-Assad and other senior officials.

The Syrian representative at the UN, Faisal al-Miqdad, said in a statement to al-Jazeera satellite TV, responded to the criticism of the American representative John Bolton. Miqdad said that Bolton is known for his stances against the UN, international efforts and Arab causes.

Observers rule out in Damascus the consent of the Syrian government to officially interrogate President al-Assad by the UN committee.