DAMASCUS, Jan. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- Syria on Saturday strongly rebuked U.S. Assistant Secretary of State David Welch for his statement that urged Damascus to stop obstructing the UN probe into the killing of Lebanese ex-premier Rafik Hariri, the official SANA news agency reported.

    "Such remarks are aimed at escalating the pressures on Syria because of its policy for stability and comprehensive peace and against occupation and aggression," SANA reported.

    Welch, who is on a visit to Beirut on Saturday, also called upon Damascus to respond positively to the requests by the UN investigation commission, threatening to refer Syria to the UN Security Council for further action if Damascus does not cooperate.Welch's remarks "constitute a fresh desperate attempt to boost the morale of anti-Syrian and anti-stability forces and figures in Lebanon", SANA said.

    Pressures on Syria aggravated again recently as former Vice President Abdel Halim Khaddam, who now lives in Paris with his family, accused Assad of being involved in Hariri's killing in a massive truck bomb in February 2004.

    Khaddam said Syrian intelligence services could not have carried out such an operation without Assad being informed.Following the allegation, the UN commission in Beirut asked to interview Assad, Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara and other seniorofficials and was waiting for an answer.

    Assad denied the accusation and hinted meanwhile that he would be immune from questioning by the UN team.

    Syria has reportedly rejected the UN request to question Assad but agreed to let Shara be quizzed. There is still no official confirmation from Damascus.

    Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlullah said on Thursday that Assad could meet the UN team as long as Syria's sovereignty was not breached, but stressed that any questioning of Assad by the investigators was unacceptable.

    Outgoing chief UN investigator Detlev Mehlis submitted two interim reports in October and December, accusing Syrian and Lebanese officials of being involved in the killing of Hariri.The UN Security Council demanded full Syrian cooperation with the international probe.

    Syria has denied any role in the killing and dismissed the UN charge of slow cooperation as "inaccurate." Enditem