DAMASCUS, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said here on Tuesday that he discussed with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad the international tribunal to try suspects involved in the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafik Hariri.

    Ban told a press conference after his talks with Assad that he discussed "the special tribunal at length with the president" and requested Syria to exert influence in order to have the Lebanese people to reach an agreement in this regard.

    Syria has been accused of implication in Hariri's killing, an allegation it strongly denied, and insists to try any Syrians at home if they were involved.

    The UN chief said he also discussed with Assad the illegal movements of arms into Lebanon while urging Syria to establish diplomatic relations and reach a border agreement with Lebanon.

    Ban, on his first official visit to Syria since he took office as the UN chief, arrived here earlier in the day.

    The Damascus tour is the last leg of Ban's four-nation swing that has earlier taken him to Italy, Switzerland and Qatar.