UN OK's tribunal on Lebanon political killings

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 7 (Reuters) The United Nations signed an agreement as a first step in creating a tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 murder of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri and other anti-Syrian figures.

But the legal document does not come into force until it is ratified by the Lebanon's parliament, which has not been called into session because of the refusal of its speaker to do so.

The tribunal has become one of several contentious issues for the anti-Syrian government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, which backs the court. Opposing the tribunal are pro-Syrian factions that include President Emile Lahoud, parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri and the Shi'ite Hezbollah movement.

UN chief legal counsel Nicolas Michel signed the formal agreement, which has also been signed by an official in Lebanon's justice ministry.

''It is up to the competent Lebanese authorities to take the steps necessary under the Lebanese constitution for the approval and ratification of the agreement, to allow it to enter into force,'' a UN statement said yesterday.

''The tribunal could then be made operational with the full support of the United Nations.'' The United Nations is hoping that a solution to the impasse over the court will be found by Arab diplomats and others, who are attempting to defuse the crisis before it deteriorates once more into civil strife.

A senior UN official said the world body was willing to explain the impartiality and scope of the tribunal to its opponents if that would help solve the crisis.

The U.N. Security Council approved the tribunal in November following the murder of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel, another critic of Syria. Two years ago, the council created a commission to investigate the assassination of Hariri on Feb.

14, 2005 by a car bomb.

Early reports from the commission pointed to Syria and its allies, which Damascus has vigorously denied.

LETTERS Siniora has sent letters to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, including one with a petition from 70 out of 108 legislators approving the tribunal. But Berri, the parliamentary leader, has refused to call a session.

In response, Lahoud, as president, wrote a 10-page letter to the Security Council. Diplomats said he accused Siniora of violating the constitution by sending the government's approval of the tribunal to the United Nations.

Lahoud also refused to accept the tribunal but the cabinet overrode him. The opposition says the government lost its legitimacy when all the Shi'ite ministers resigned in November, skewing the sectarian balance in Lebanon's power-sharing system.

Lebanese media have said Siniora was seeking a mandatory Chapter 7 resolution from the Security Council to create the tribunal if the stalemate continues.

But the senior UN official said Siniora had made ''no mention of Chapter 7 whatsoever'' in his letters.

''We want to see the Lebanese government do whatever it can to establish this tribunal according to its constitutional processes and we will cross the next bridge, if we have to, when it's necessary.,'' acting Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said.

Each side has outside allies. The United States, France and Saudi Arabia are the government's firmest backers. Hezbollah is supported by neighboring Syria and Shi'ite Iran.

Reuters SRS VP0550