Syrian president refuses UN interview over Hariri killing

President Bashar Assad of Syria indicated today his rejection of a second request by UN investigators to interview him over the Rafik Hariri assassination, declaring that Syria would not bow to international pressure.

Assad’s uncompromising tone on what he termed a matter of national sovereignty was certain to further heighten tension with the US and complicate the seven-month probe into the February 14 truck bombing that killed the former Lebanese premier and 20 others on a Beirut street.