DAMASCUS, Nov. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki called on Monday for a "pure legal" investigation into the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

    "We pin our hope that the investigation team continues its workon a pure legal foundation and does not work on politicizing the investigation," Mottaki told reporters after a meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara.

    Mottaki said he believed the Syrian government is supporting the probe in a good manner, saying "I have seen that the officialsin Syria support this issue in a good way."

    Mottaki, who handed over a letter from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Assad, said he discussed with Syrian leaders "the dubious moves that America is undertaking in theregion," adding "America seeks ... domination goals in the region which serves the interests of Israel."

    He voiced Iran's support for "uncovering the truth" in Hariri'smurder, saying his government and people support Syria and standby it in confronting pressures it is exposed to.

    Syria is facing mounting international pressure following aninterim report presented by chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis which implicated involvement of Syrian officials in the assassination of Hariri in a car bomb blast in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Feb. 14.

    Syria strongly denied the allegation and criticized it as politically motivated.

    The UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1636 onOct. 31, demanding Syria fully cooperate with the UN probe or face"further action."

    Assad insisted on Syria's innocence on the matter on Thursday,but vowed to fully cooperate with the probe. Enditem