Britain blasts Syria for Lebanon, Hariri

LONDON, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw issues tough words for Syria as he heads to Lebanon which, until early 2005, was occupied by Syria for decades.

Straw called on Syrian President Bashar Assad to comply with the U.N. investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Hariri was assassinated in February and a subsequent investigation has named people close to Assad as suspects.

The public outcry after the murder, suspected to by carried out by Syria, forced Syrian troops out of the country for the first time in 29 years.

The BBC reports former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam said Assad threatened Hariri before his death.

U.N. investigators now want to question Assad, who has not responded to the request.

Straw is meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora as well as leaders of the Christian Maronite and Shiite Muslim community there.