WASHINGTON - Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied his government had any role in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri, according to excerpts of an interview with a US television network.

"Nobody threatened him in Syria, me or nobody else...this is not my way," Assad, speaking in English, told PBS television's "The Charlie Rose Show."

The public broadcaster released excerpts of the hour-long interview, which was conducted in Damascus, a day before it was due to be aired on Monday.

Syria is suspected of involvement in the February 14, 2005 bomb blast in the Lebanese capital which killed Hariri, a billionaire businessman who was prime minister in 1992-98 and 2000-04, and 22 other people.

Damascus has come under mounting international pressure to cooperate with a UN probe into the bombing and Assad said earlier this month that he would meet with the UN team conducting the investigation.

Belgian prosecutor Serge Brammertz, who is leading the investigation, has said that Syria's cooperation will be crucial to continued progress in the probe.

Speaking of Syria's alleged role in Hariri's murder, Assad said: "First of all, let me tell you, I'm sure there's no such evidence, 100 percent."

Assad also referred to Hariri as "a friend to Syria."

When asked about the US-led war in Iraq, Assad reiterated his criticism of the United States, comparing the invasion to Saddam Hussein's attack on neighboring Kuwait.

Assad said he had anticipated that there would be "chaos and resistance" once US forces toppled Saddam's regime, comparing the current situation to a "swamp."

"You are going to sink in the swamp," he said.

Assad, whose government enjoys close ties to Iran, rejected suspicions by the United States and European governments that Tehran is pursuing a clandestine nuclear weapons program.

"I've asked and they've said publicly, and they said to me we don't have interest to have nuclear weapons," Assad said.

"I think Iran is a strong country without nuclear power."

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