WASHINGTON, Oct. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The United States on Wednesday called on the UN Security Council to hold a ministerial meeting to consider action on Syria's alleged role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

    US President George W. Bush "believes it's important for the Security Council to meet at the ministerial level to talk about how to proceed, and talk about how we move forward on this resolution," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

    The United States, joined by Britain and France, has circulateda draft Security Council resolution, calling on Syria to cooperate in Hariri murder probe or face UN sanctions.

    The draft resolution states that Syria "must detain those Syrian officials or individuals" whom a UN-authorized inquiry commission might consider as suspected of having been involved in the murder of Hariri, and make them available for interviews with the panel.

    It also demands Syria stop interfering in Lebanese domestic affairs, refrain from any attempt aimed at destabilizing Lebanon, and commit to "cease all support for all forms of terrorist action."

    Syria has categorically denied any role in the February assassination.

    It was reported that Washington wants the draft resolution to be adopted next Monday when the 15-nation Security Council holds a foreign ministers' meeting. Enditem