DAMASCUS, Oct. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Syria's official SANA news agency reported Saturday that the country would set up its own commission of enquiry in cooperation with the UN probe into the case of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri's assassination.

    The probe decision was made by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a presidential decree, according to SANA.

    The president "has ordered the setting up of a special commission of enquiry... which will directly lead the enquiry with Syrians -- civilians or military -- in all respects that concernthe (UN) probe," SANA said.

    It added that "the special Syrian commission will cooperate with the commission of enquiry of the United Nations and with the Lebanese judicial authorities."

    The decree said that the commission would be presided by the Attorney General of the Republic and include the Military Attorney General and a judge nominated by the Ministry of Justice.

    The commission might choose suitable persons from military and civil judges or members of the military and civil judicial police in executing the task, it added.

    Earlier this month, chief U.N. investigator of the Hariri case Detlev Mehlis had urged Syria to set up its own probe and cooperate fully with international investigators.

    Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak paid a surprise visit to Syriaon Friday and held a closed-door meeting with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad.

    SANA said the two leaders held talks on the latest developments in the region and consultations in the UN Security Council following the release of a UN report on the killing of Hariri.

    "President Bashar al-Assad has renewed Syria's keenness and readiness to continue cooperation with the international investigative committee," SANA said, quoting a statement issued after the talks.

    The UN report, presented by German prosecutor Detlev Mehlisafter months of investigation over Hariri's death, found "converging evidence" of both Syrian and Lebanese involvement in the assassination.

    Syria has denied any involvement in the killing and dismissed the report as politically motivated.

    Meanwhile, a Syrian political source, who asked not to be named, told the press that Assad briefed Mubarak on the Syrian position on the Mehlis report and a draft UN resolution.

    The resolution, circulated by the United States and France in the UN Security Council on Tuesday, threatens economic sanctions against Damascus if it fails to fully cooperate with the probe.

    Syria withdrew its troops and intelligence agents from Lebanonin late April under growing international pressure after Hariri'sdeath sparked widespread anti-Syrian protests in Lebanon. Enditem