[JURIST] Syrian ambassador to the UN Fayssal Mekdad Tuesday angrily refuted the UN-commissioned Mehlis report [text; JURIST report], which found that the Syrian government was involved in the murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri [JURIST news archive]. Speaking during a UN Security Council debate [JURIST video], Mekdad dismissed the report as biased, asserting it was influenced by the anti-Syrian political climate in Lebanon. He further accused some countries of "fanning the flames of hatred" against Syria. After the UN's release of the report last Friday, the US called for an urgent UN meeting [JURIST report] on the appropriate response to Syria's involvement. The Security Council is expected to hear calls for diplomatic action against Syria when it reconvenes. BBC News has more.