Lahoud 'to block' Lebanon panel

Mr Lahoud accused Israel of killing minister Pierre Gemayel

Lebanon's Syrian-backed president has indicated he will not approve an international tribunal to try suspects over the murder of Rafik Hariri.

The cabinet has sent plans for the panel to Emil Lahoud for agreement, but in a BBC interview he reiterated his view that the government was illegal.

It lacks sectarian balance following the recent resignation of a number of Shia Muslim ministers, he said.

Former Prime Minister Hariri was killed in a bombing in Beirut in 2005.

The president called for a new government of national unity.

"In our constitution there is no legality to any institution if it doesn't represent all the religious communities," Mr Lahoud told the BBC.

Critics say Mr Lahoud and other pro-Syrian politicians are trying to prevent the Hariri tribunal from going ahead because it might embarrass them and their Syrian backers - accusations they deny.

He said he was in favour of a just tribunal to try the culprits, but he described the current project as highly politicised.

In other comments, Mr Lahoud accused Israel of being behind the assassination last week of an anti-Syrian minister, Pierre Gemayel.

He said Israel was the main enemy of Lebanon, and the one that stood to benefit from the killing.