DUBAI, Oct 25: President George Bush said on Tuesday military action was a last resort in dealing with Syria and he hoped Damascus would cooperate with a probe into the killing of former Lebanese premier Rafik al Hariri.

“A military (option) is always the last choice of a president,” he told Al Arabiya television in an interview when asked about a UN investigation that implicated Syrian officials in the killing of Mr Hariri.

“I am hoping that they will cooperate. It (military action) is the last — very last option,” he said. “But on the other hand, you know — and I’ve worked hard for diplomacy and will continue to work the diplomatic angle on this issue.”

Mr Bush said Syria had to meet a set of demands from the international community, including expelling Palestinian militant groups, preventing guerillas from ‘crossing its borders’ into Iraq to fight US forces, and ending ‘interference’ in Lebanon.

“Nobody wants there to be a confrontation. On the other hand, there must be serious pressure applied,” he said.

“In other words, there are some clear demands by the world. And this (UN) report, as I say, had serious implications for Syria, and the Syrian government must take the demands of the free world very seriously.”

The UN report by German investigator Detlev Mehlis said the decision to kill Mr Hariri ‘could not have been taken without the approval of top-ranked Syrian security officials’ colluding with counterparts in Lebanon.

Syria has denied the accusations.

Diplomats said the United States and France were working on a resolution demanding Syria cooperate with the investigation but may not seek to impose sanctions immediately.

Mr Bush would not be pinned down on what action Washington would take if Damascus does not comply.

“I certainly hope that people take a good look at the Mehlis report ... there’s clear implication about Syrians’ involvement in the death of a foreign leader,” he said.

“The United States was willing to help, work with other countries, and we will, to make sure that out of the United Nations comes a clear message.”

Asked if the United States would support a call by Mr Hariri’s son Saad for an international court to try his father’s killers, Mr Bush said the decision lay with the United Nations.

“Well, we want people to be held to account. And I’d be glad to talk to other leaders to determine whether or not that’s the best course of action. But certainly, people do need to be held to account. And the first course of action is to go the United Nations,” he added. —Reuters