Tribunal accord rejected by Lebanese president

Lebanon's pro-Syrian president refused to endorse a draft accord sent to him by the Cabinet to create an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of a former premier.

President Emile Lahoud said yesterday the Cabinet of prime minister Fuad Saniora and his anti-Syria allies had lost its constitutional legitimacy.

The president's action was certain to intensify political and sectarian tensions that have worsened since mass protests over the 2005 murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri forced Syria to end a nearly three-decade military occupation of Lebanon.

The Syrian-backed Hezbollah guerrilla group and its allies were in the ninth day of street protests launched after talks with Saniora's government failed to produce a national unity government.

The groups called for a huge demonstration today, saying it would mark an escalation in their attempt to oust the US-backed government.