Lebanese government approves Hariri tribunal

BEIRUT, Nov 25 (Reuters) The Lebanese government approved today plans for a special court to try suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, official sources said.

The court is a major source of contention between the Western-backed government led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the opposition led by pro-Syrian Hezbollah.

Tension between the two groups was heightened by Tuesday's assassination of Christian cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel.

Early reports from a U N inquiry into Hariri's death implicated Syrian and Lebanese security officials.

Syria, whose critics have also accused it of involvement in Gemayel's killing, denies any role in their deaths. It complained yesterday it had not been consulted on plans for the tribunal and appeared to threaten not to cooperate with it.

Lebanon's government says its Syrian-backed opponents, led by Shi'ite group Hezbollah, want to weaken it and scupper the international tribunal. The opposition denies this, saying it backs a tribunal in principle.

Six ministers from Hezbollah and other pro-Syrian factions quit the cabinet this month after all-party talks on a new government collapsed. They say the depleted cabinet is a puppet of Washington which lacks legitimacy.

Hezbollah, which is also supported by Iran, and its allies have said they will take to the streets to topple the government after it rejected its demands for more say in government.

Reuters KR DB2347