BRUSSELS - European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana urged all sides Thursday to cooperate with the newly-appointed head of a UN probe into the slaying of Lebanon's ex-premier Rafiq Hariri.

Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz was named to the post Wednesday, taking over from German investigator Detlev Mehlis in spearheading the Hariri inquiry, which has placed international pressure on Syria.

"I wish Mr Brammertz every success ... the investigating commission has the full support of the European Union," said Solana in a statement.

"I call on all sides involved to cooperate fully and without conditions with Mr. Brammertz and his team, and to implement without ambiguity all the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," he added.

Hariri's assassination last February triggered a massive outcry in Lebanon, led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops and increased international pressure on the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

Mehlis has released two reports since October, implicating Syrian and Lebanese intelligence officers and casting doubt on Damascus' cooperation with the UN probe.

Last month, the UN Security Council passed a resolution endorsing a six-month extension of the Hariri probe and renewing its call for Syria's full cooperation with the investigation.

UN chief Kofi Annan is to consult with Brammertz and Lebanese authorities on ways to expand the work of the commission "to help Lebanese authorities investigate other terrorist attacks since October 1, 2004," a spokesman said.

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