CAIRO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Sunday paid a surprise visit to Egypt amid international pressure over Damascus's alleged role in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

    Assad, who flew to Egypt after a stopover in Saudi Arabia, met Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, the official MENA news agency reported.

    "The two leaders touched on the latest developments in both Syria and Lebanon," said MENA.

    During the one-hour meeting, Mubarak briefed Assad on his recent contacts with officials of Saudi Arabia, France and Lebanon over the international probe of Hariri's killing, MENA added.The two leaders did not speak to the press and the two governments have yet to issue statements on the meeting.

    Egypt, a major power broker in the Middle East region, has recently stepped up efforts to mediate between Damascus and the United Nations over the international probe of Hariri's killing.Mubarak visited Saudi Arabia, another major regional player, on Jan. 3 and France, the former colonial ruler of Lebanon, on Jan. 4-5 to discuss the issue with Saudi and French leaders.

    The Egyptian leader has also contacted Lebanese leaders as partof efforts to calm the relations between Damascus and Beirut, which have been strained since Hariri's killing.

    Syria has come under fresh attack recently as former Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam, who lives in Paris with his family,accused Assad of being involved in Hariri's killing in a massive truck bomb in February 2005.

    Syrian intelligence services could not carry out such an operation without Assad being informed, Khaddam said.Following the allegation, the UN commission investigating Hariri's death had asked to interview Assad.

    However, Assad denied the accusation in an interview with Egyptian weekly al-Obsou and hinted that he would be immune from questioning by the UN team.

    Meanwhile, it has been reported that Syria rejected the UN request to question Assad but agreed to let Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara be quizzed. Damascus has made no official confirmation on the report.

    Outgoing chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis submitted two interim reports in October and December 2005 respectively, accusing Syrian and Lebanese officials of being involved in the killing of Hariri.

    The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1636 unanimously, which demands full Syrian cooperation, threatening unspecified "further action" if Damascus fails to comply.

    Syria has denied any role in Hariri's death and dismissed the UN charge of slow cooperation as "inaccurate." Enditem