The Lebanese government says it will cooperate with a U.N. investigation into the killing of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said Sunday that learning the truth about the assassination is in the government's best interest.

But he and other Lebanese officials say that outside investigators must respect Lebanese sovereignty.

The Lebanese government previously suggested it would snub the U.N. probe, although it has requested Swiss experts to help with its own investigation.

The U.N. Security Council has demanded a report on the causes and consequences of last Monday's car bomb attack that killed Mr. Hariri and at least 14 others.

Many Lebanese have blamed Syria for the bombing and called for Damascus to withdraw its 14,000 troops from Lebanon. Damascus insists it had no role in the attack.