Backing for Hariri court

BEIRUT - The Lebanese Government has approved plans for a special court to try suspects in the assassination last year of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The court is a major source of contention between the Western-backed Government led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and the Opposition led by the pro-Syrian Hizbollah.

Tension between the two groups was heightened by last week's assassination of Christian Cabinet minister Pierre Gemayel.

Early reports from a United Nations 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 it had not been consulted on plans for the tribunal and appeared to threaten not to co-operate with it.

- REUTERS