DAMASCUS, Sept. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis arrived here on Monday for talks with Syrian officials over a probe into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

   Legal advisor of the Syrian Foreign Ministry Riad al-Daoudi welcomed and held talks with Mehlis at the border town of Jadeideh Yabous, the official SANA news agency reported.

   Mehlis is expected to meet with Syrian Interior Minister Ghazi Kanaan, former Syrian military intelligence chief in Lebanon, his successor Rustom Ghazaleh, who left Lebanon along with Syrian troops in April, and two key aides in Beirut, Mohammed Makhlouf and Jamaa Jamaa.

   Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has pledged full cooperation with the UN investigation team, saying Mehlis could question anyone.

   Hariri was killed in a car bomb blast in Beirut on Feb. 14 and the killing sparked massive anti-Syrian protest and led to Syrian troops withdrawal from Lebanon in April after 39 years of military presence.

   Many Lebanese blamed Syria and its Lebanese allies for the murder, but Damascus denied any role.

   The investigation came to a breakthrough as Lebanon charged four pro-Syrian generals with the assassination earlier this month after Mehlis strongly recommended their arrest. Enditem