DAMASCUS (Reuters) -- Syria said on Friday it would allow U.N. investigators to question five officials at the U.N. offices in Vienna in connection with the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri.

"The Syrian leadership has agreed to his (chief U.N. investigator Detlev Mehlis) compromise proposal on holding the interviews of the five Syrian persons at the U.N. headquarters in Vienna," Deputy Foreign Ministry Walid al-Moualem told a news conference.

Moualem said the date for the questioning would be set after contacts with Mehlis. There was no immediate comment from the U.N. investigation team.

He said Syria dropped its demands for agreeing a legal framework for cooperation before allowing the questioning after receiving guarantees on the right of the individuals, who will be accompanied by legal representatives, and on the respect of Syria's sovereignty.

The official said the individuals, whose names were not released, would return to Damascus after the interviews.

A Security Council resolution on Oct. 31 demanded Syria cooperate fully with Mehlis or face unspecified further action.

Mehlis then summoned six top Syrian security officials, who according to Lebanese political sources include the brother-in-law of President Bashar al-Assad, for questioning in Lebanon -- where he has power to arrest them.

Moualem and the ministry's legal advisor Riad al-Daoudi, who was present at the news conference, did not explain why five and not six individuals will be going to Vienna.