SHOTLIST

1. Exterior of Arab League headquarters in Cairo

2. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Amr Moussa, Arab League Secretary General:

"We hope that an understanding can be reached within the Lebanese government regarding the (UN) Security Council decision, so that a political reconciliation can be achieved. What is important is that this tribunal be lawful, respected and agreed upon by all sides. I hope we can achieve that (reconciliation) through our ongoing communications (with the different factions of Lebanese government)."

3. Wide of Moussa leaving

STORYLINE

Arab League General Secretary Amr Moussa said, on Thursday, that he hoped "an understanding can be reached within the Lebanese government regarding the (UN) Security Council decision, so that a political reconciliation can be achieved," in Lebanon.

The United Nations Security Council voted, on Wednesday, to unilaterally establish an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The decision was welcomed by Hariri supporters and denounced by Syria and its supporters in the Lebanese opposition.

The tribunal has been at the core of a months-long political crisis between western-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora's government in Beirut and the Syrian- backed Hezbollah-led opposition - which has erupted into street clashes killing 11 people.

A UN investigation has implicated Syria in Hariri's assassination in 2005 when the Syrian army controlled Lebanon.

Syria has denied involvement.

Hariri's assassination sparked huge protests across Lebanon against Syria, which was widely seen as culpable.

Syria denied involvement but was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon, ending a 29-year presence.

The initial UN investigator said the complexity of Hariri's assassination suggested the Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services played a role, but the probe is continuing.

Four Lebanese generals, top pro-Syrian security chiefs, have been under arrest for 20 months, accused of involvement in Hariri's murder.