UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- The United Nations is considering a request from Syria to intervene in the investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
Hariri and 22 others were killed in a Beirut truck-bombing Feb. 14.
Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, was asked Tuesday about reports of a Damascus request to intervene and he said a letter had been received, was being studied and will be answered.
He said it was from Syria's Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and was a request for help in negotiating with the Annan-appointed German prosecutor, Detlev Mehlis.
In a preliminary report on his investigation, Mehlis said the attack on Hariri could not have taken place outside the knowledge of Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services.
As for how interviews would take place between Mehlis and Syrian officials, that had to be worked out by Mehlis, Dujarric said, adding the secretary-general would not be negotiating for Mehlis.
The secretary-general told reporters Monday evening his efforts were focused on encouraging Syria to cooperate fully with Security Council resolution 1559 which calls for the end to all foreign forces in Lebanon, referring to Syrian forces.
