"We have nothing directly to do with the court. Any cooperation requested from Syria that compromises national sovereignty is totally rejected," Assad told a parliament session in the Syrian capital.

"Some don't differentiate between cooperation and abandoning sovereignty. The abandonment of sovereignty means that Syrian law no longer protects Syrian citizens," Assad said.

Diplomats said the comments indicated that it would be difficult for Syria to cooperate with the tribunal if it indicts Syrian officials. A United Nations investigation has implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials in the assassination. 2 closely related top Syrian officials were mentioned as suspects in the unofficial draft of Mehlis report; his brother Maher and his brother in-law Assef Shawkat.

Assad has repeatedly denied any Syrian involvement in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, but has said any Syrian found to be involved would be tried by a Syrian court.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this week Washington might seek to force setting up of the tribunal by the U.N. Security Council after a political crisis in Beirut paralyzed parliament and blocked any attempts to get Lebanon to approve the court.

Ban sought Assad's help on the international tribunal

Ban called Assad yesterday and sought his help in getting his Lebanese allies to agree on an international tribunal in the 2005 assassination of former Premier Rafik Hariri.

Obviously , Assad's speech did not spell out good news for Ban on Syria's cooperation

It is not clear why Assad will not give the green light to his allies to accept the tribunal, since this has nothing to do with Syria’s sovereignty, if truly this is his main concern.

According to reports Ban will meet next week with members of the Security Council to discuss what steps the Council would take on the tribunal.

The reports said the Council could act to break the deadlock on the court before the end of May after Ban was convinced that the tribunal wouldn't be formed locally.

Sources: Reuters , Ya Libnan