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Arabs fretting about Syria: Annan

"[Arab leaders] are worried if we are leading to another Iraq situation."

Kofi Annan, UN secretary-general

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who just returned from the MIddle East, said Arab leaders are worried that Syria could become the next Iraq.

Annan said on Monday that the issue of Syrian cooperation with an investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri came up in every capital he visited.

"They're all concerned and anxious to see Syria cooperate and to see the issue settled diplomatically and not lead to a situation that destabilizes possibly Syria and Lebanon," Annan said. "They're worried if we are leading to another Iraq situation."

A UN interim report into the Feb. 14 assassination implicated Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services, and accused Syria of only limited cooperation. The UN Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution on Oct. 31 warning Syria of possible "further action" if it refuses to cooperate with the UN investigation, which has been extended until Dec. 15.

Syria has objected to chief investigator Detlev Mehlis' request to interview six top Syrian officials about the assassination in Beirut. Syria's UN Ambassador Fayssal Mekdad reiterated Monday that Lebanon "creates problems, sensitivities and other issues."

Last week, Mekdad said Syria had proposed alternative venues including the headquarters of the UN observer force on the Golan Heights, at the Arab League office in Cairo, or at UN facilities in Vienna and Geneva.

Mekdad said the location issue was discussed at a meeting in Barcelona, Spain two days ago between Mehlis and Syrian officials.

Asked about reports that there was an agreement on Cyprus as a compromise venue, he replied, "not yet -- there still needs to be some work."

Mekdad said Syria is insisting on a memorandum of understanding spelling out the kind of cooperation the UN investigating commission requires in its interrogation and investigation.

After Mehlis arrived in Lebanon, he signed a memorandum of understanding with the government in June, "and in Syria we want to do the same, so that we know how ... we organize our cooperation and work together," Mekdad said.

"It is not in our interest to delay things," he said. "I think it is against our interest and we hope that Mr. Mehlis and his team will expedite the work so that we can proceed directly to the investigation and the interrogation processes."

Annan refused to respond to reports of US criticism for allegedly interfering in the Mehlis investigation, but he said "I have had the chance to assist him sometimes to push people along, encourage leaders in the region to urge Syria to cooperate and to cooperate fully."
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