BEIRUT, Lebanon, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has rejected a Cabinet proposal to create a tribunal to try suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
The pro-Syrian leader said the Cabinet had already lost its legitimacy when it passed a decree calling for a United Nations-backed tribunal last month, the BBC reported.
A U.N. inquiry implicated Syria in Hariri's assassination in a car bombing in February 2005.
Lahoud considers the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora unconstitutional since six Cabinet ministers resigned last month shortly before the government initially approved the tribunal.
Saturday's emergency Cabinet session was held without six pro-Syrian ministers, including some from the Hezbollah movement, after talks to bring them back to the government failed.
Siniora had offered to postpone the meeting if the ministers would return.
Tensions between the Cabinet and Hezbollah escalated last month with the killing of Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel.
