Assad will not meet U.N. investigators

DAMASCUS, Syria, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- Syria's president has turned down a meeting request from a U.N. team probing the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Syria's Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlallah said his country would reject any meeting between President Bashar al-Assad and investigators, reports the BBC.

Senior Syrian and Lebanese officials have been implicated in Hariri's killing last February, but Syria has denied any involvement.

Dakhlallah said the world body should respect Syria's sovereignty, saying the whole issue is "meant to embarrass Syria or make it look as if it is not co-operating."