Syria says Hariri court may destabilise Lebanon

DAMASCUS (Reuters) - Syria said a United Nations special court for the Hariri case, passed by the Security Council on Wednesday, violated Lebanese sovereignty and could plunge Lebanon into further instability.

A government statement carried by the official news agency said Syria stuck by its longstanding concerns about the court compromising Syria's own jurisdiction over any Syrians who could be indicted for the 2005 killing of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik al-Hariri in Beirut.

"Setting up the court under Chapter Seven violates the sovereignty of Lebanon and could cause the situation there to become worse," the statement said. "There has been no change in the Syrian position on the court."

The resolution, which was passed by a two-thirds Security Council majority, invokes Chapter 7 of the United Nations Charter to enforce the court's establishment.

Syria has stressed the need to preserve Syrian jurisdiction over possible Syrian suspects in the killing and signalled it might not cooperate with the court if the tribunal indicts Syrian officials.

A United Nations investigation has implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials in Hariri's assassination. Damascus denies involvement.