DAMASCUS, Jan. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to pay a visit to Syria on Friday, the first since he took power last August, Syria's official SANA news agency reported on Monday.

    The visit comes within the framework of bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, SANA quoted an official of the Office of Iranian Presidency Affairs as saying, without giving further details.

    Tehran's semi-official Fars news agency said on Sunday that Ahmadinejad is expected to hold talks with his Syrian counterpart Bashar al-Assad and other senior Syrian officials. The visit follows an invitation from President Assad to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues, Fars said. Assad visited Tehran shortly after Ahmadinejad took office last August.

    Syria and Iran, both on the U.S. blacklist of states sponsoring terrorism, are accused by Washington of taking in sufficient actions to prevent armed opponents of the U.S.-led coalition from infiltrating into Iraq.

    Syria is facing mounting international pressure over its alleged role in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, while Iran is in the hot water over its nuclear program.

    Last week, the United States as well as Britain, France and Germany threatened to refer Iran's nuclear file to the UN Security Council, which could trigger sanctions.

    Meanwhile, Washington urges Damascus to stop obstructing a UN probe into Hariri's murder and respond positively to requests by the investigation commission, threatening to refer the Syrian file to the Security Council for further action if Damascus does not cooperate.

    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 probe.

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