SHOTLIST:

1. Various of fireworks

2. People dancing in the streets

3. Car passing with Lebanese flag

4. Candles on the streets of Beirut

5. Car loaded with people chanting and waving flags

6. Various of fireworks

7. Various of people watching television and cheering

8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Saad Hariri, Son of the assassinated Prime minister Rafik Hariri:

"We are not demanding justice for revenge. We are demanding it for punishment and for the truth, which should be kept as a trust in the conscience of all the Lebanese. We should all participate in securing the International Tribunal to save Lebanon."

9. Various of people chanting slogans pro Hariri

10. Saad Hariri arriving at his father's grave

11. Mid of Saad Hariri praying

12. Mid of grave

13. Exterior of prime minister's office building

14. Lebanese Fuad Saniora heading towards the podium

15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fuad Saniora, Lebanese prime minister:

"The ratification of the International Tribunal does not and should not be considered as a victory for one party over another Lebanese party. It is not a victory for one group over another, it is a victory for Lebanon and for all the Lebanese."

16. Mid of Lebanese flags

STORYLINE

Supporters of murdered former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri were celebrating on Wednesday night, as the United Nations (UN) Security Council voted to establish an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in his killing.

Beirut residents took on the streets of the capital dancing and chanting, while fireworks lit up the skyline.

In a televised speech Saad Hariri, the son of Rafik and leader of the majority group in the Lebanese parliament, said he was not looking for revenge, for his father's death, but for the truth.

"We are not demanding justice for revenge. We are demanding it for punishment and for the truth which should be kept as a trust in the conscience of all the Lebanese. We should all participate in securing the International Tribunal to save Lebanon."

After his speech Saad Hariri went to visit his father's grave.

Hundreds of supporters were also at the graveside chanting pro-Hariri slogans.

The Lebanese prime minister Fuad Saniora said the ratification of the International Tribunal should not be considered as a victory for one party over another.

"It is not a victory for one group over another it is a victory for Lebanon and for all the Lebanese," he said.

Saniora asked the Security Council earlier this month to establish the tribunal, citing the refusal of opposition-aligned Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to convene a session to ratify the statutes to create the tribunal, which have already been approved by his government and the United Nations.

The issue of an international tribunal has since fuelled a deep political conflict between Saniora's Western-backed government and the Syrian-backed, Hezbollah-led opposition.

The conflict has taken on an increasingly sectarian tone and erupted into street battles, killing 11 people in recent months.

The UN resolution gives Lebanon's parliament a last chance to establish the tribunal itself.

If it does not act by June 10, the UN-Lebanon agreement will automatically "enter into force," creating a tribunal outside Lebanon with a majority of international judges and an international prosecutor.

Council diplomats said this could take a year.

Hariri and 22 others were killed by a massive truck bombing in Beirut on February 14, 2005 and the UN Security Council authorised a commission to investigate the assassinations.

A 2005 report by a former chief investigator implicated Syrian and Lebanese intelligence services in Hariri's assassination.

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

Four pro-Syrian Lebanese generals, accused of involvement in Hariri's murder, have been under arrest for 15 months.

SHOTLIST

April 4, 2007

1. Street traffic in Beirut

2. Wide of Newspaper stand

3. Tilt down of newspapers

4. Newspaper headline reading: (in Arabic) "70 lawmakers place procedure to form tribunal in the hands of the United Nations: avoiding Chapter 7 is still possible"

April 3, 2007

5. Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and son of the slain leader, Rafik Hariri, delivering the memorandum to Geir Pederson, the UN representative in Lebanon ++MUTE++

6. Lebanese members of parliament at meeting ++MUTE++

7. Wide of meeting ++MUTE++

April 4, 2007

8. Exterior of Prime Minister's office building

9. Close-up of Lebanese flag

10. Youth and Sport Minister Ahmad Fatfat

11. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ahmad Fatfat, Minister of Youth and Sports:

"We proceeded to the United Nations after the failure of all internal constitutional attempts due to obstacles placed along the way by certain elements (in government). That is why we look to the United Nations to implement the resolutions."

April 3, 2007

12. Exterior of Parliament building

13. Members of parliament gathered in parliament hall

14. Camera operators

15. Wide of members of parliament

April 4, 2007

16. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Nawar Al-Sahili, Hezbollah Member of Parliament:

" This is dangerous move for all of Lebanon and it belittles the importance of the International tribunal. Instead of the tribunal being one that serves all the Lebanese people, one they all want and support, it is now a tribunal negotiated and imposed by a few Members of Parliament. Which makes it a political tribunal."

17. Image of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader, on calendar cover

STORYLINE:

Parliament's anti-Syrian majority has called on the UN to impose an international tribunal to try suspects in the assassination of former premier Rafik Hariri after the government failed to win opposition support for its creation drawing condemnation from the Hezbollah-led opposition.

The anti-Syrian coalition's call late on Tuesday on the world body to take "alternative measures" to approve the tribunal amounted to an invitation to the UN Security Council to independently establish it.

Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and son of the slain leader, presented a memorandum to Geir Pederson, the UN representative in Lebanon, during a meeting late on Tuesday, demanding UN action to establish the tribunal in accordance with a draft agreement signed between the Lebanese government and the United Nations last year.

The memorandum, addressed to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, calls on the UN chief "to take all alternative measures under the UN Charter which ensure the establishment of the international tribunal which has been approved by the Security Council in order to achieve justice, strengthen national peace and protect world justice and peace," according to a statement issued by Hariri's office.

The memorandum accused pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, a key opposition figure, of obstructing efforts to set up the tribunal, claiming Lahoud repeatedly refused to sign the tribunal draft agreement because he considered the government unconstitutional after the resignation of six ministers.

Ahmad Fatfat, the Lebanese Minister of Youth and Sports, said the decision to go through the United Nations was borne out of frustration.

" We proceeded to the United Nations after the failure of all internal constitutional attempts due to obstacles placed along the way by certain elements (in government). That is why we look to the United Nations to implement the resolutions," said Fatfat.

The move prompted a warning from Hezbollah that such international intervention threatens Lebanon's security and stability.

On Tuesday, Amal leader and Hezbollah ally, Speaker Nabih Berri locked out pro-government lawmakers from the chamber, refusing to call the legislature into session.

It was the third attempt in as many weeks by lawmakers from the anti-Syrian majority to try and force Berri to call a session.

But Hezbollah and its Pro-Syrian allies in parliament have declined, seeking instead to negotiate limits to the tribunal's mandate.

Nawar Al-Sahili, Hezbollah Member of Parliament, called the decision to go through the UN a

" dangerous move for all of Lebanon."

"Instead of the tribunal being one that serves all the Lebanese people, one they all want and support, it is now a tribunal negotiated and imposed by a few Members of Parliament. Which makes it a political tribunal," said Al-Sahili.

Hezbollah lawmaker Hussein Haj Hassan said in a telephone interview with LBC television, warned that the establishment of a tribunal by the UN with out the consent of the Lebanese parliament is considered international foreign intervention in the internal affairs which threatens the security and stability of Lebanon.

SHOTLIST:

LEBANESE STATE TV

++4:3++

1. Wide exterior of Lebanese parliament

2. Close of Lebanese flag

3. Wide interior of Lebanese parliament in session

4. Mid of Lebanese members of parliament (MPs)

5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Marwan Hamadeh, Lebanese Member of Parliament:

++Various cutaways of parliament during soundbite++

"No, Mr. Prime Minister Mikati, your friend Hariri wasn't just martyred. He was assassinated with two tons of explosives, along with him, your colleagues, your friends and your citizens. For them, you have a holy responsibility that will follow you, will chase you, forever and ever. The worst series of the worst crimes in the history of Lebanon is being treated with irreverence, without investigation, without question and without punishment, and now after 30 years it is on the precipice of being solved, and its executors, God willing, and those who ordered it, will be known."

6. Close of Prime Minister Najib Mikati

7. Mid of MPs

AP TELEVISION

++16:9++

8. Set-up of UN defence official, Francois Roux

9. SOUNDBITE (French) Francois Roux, UN defence chief in Rafik Hariri case:

"My message to these individuals is the following: an arrest warrant has been issued against you today. The only person in the world who can get you out of this arrest warrant is a lawyer. So, make contact as soon as possible with a lawyer."

10. Cutaway of hands

11. SOUNDBITE (French) Francois Roux, UN defence chief in Rafik Hariri case:

"If the accused, or some of them, do not contact lawyers, then they will be tried in absentia. In that case, I myself have to assign lawyers on this list to defend the accused. But clearly those lawyers won't have contact with the accused, they won't know their points of view, and their job will certainly be more difficult."

12. Cutaway of hands

STORYLINE:

Lebanon's parliament began three days of contentious debate on Tuesday, over the government's response to UN-backed indictments of four Hezbollah members in the 2005 murder of former prime minister Rafik Hariri.

In parliament on Tuesday, MP Marwan Hamadeh told Lebanon's new Prime Minister, Najib Mikati, that he had "a holy responsibility that will follow you, will chase you, forever and ever" to bring Hariri's killers to justice.

Hamadeh himself was injured in a car bomb explosion on October 1, 2004 that killed his driver and injured his bodyguard.

The blast is considered to have been the beginning of a series of assassinations of Lebanese politicians and journalists, one of which claimed the life of Rafik Hariri.

Tuesday's session in Beirut pitted Lebanon's rival factions against each other. Hezbollah and its allies are on one side, and a Western-backed coalition led by Hariri's son, Saad, is on the other.

On Monday, Saad Hariri accused Mikati of bowing to pressure from Hezbollah, which is refusing to turn over four members indicted by the UN-backed tribunal for the truck bombing that killed the Lebanese statesman in 2005.

Mikati fired back, suggesting Saad Hariri - himself a former prime minister - was trying to exploit his father's death for political gain and tear apart the country.

The implication of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah in one of Lebanon's most stunning crimes threatens to bring a new and violent crisis in this Arab nation on Israel's northern border.

The Shiite militant group denies any role in the killing and vows never to turn over any of its members.

Also on Tuesday, the defence chief at the UN tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafik Hariri has urged the four Hezbollah members indicted in the slaying to come forward.

Francois Roux says the men will be tried in absentia if they stay in hiding.

"My message to these individuals is the following: an arrest warrant has been issued against you today. The only person in the world who can get you out of this arrest warrant is a lawyer. Make contact as soon as possible with a lawyer," Roux said.

Roux said that his office would help them prepare their defence.

The tribunal last week indicted the men in the 2005 assassination of Hariri, a prominent Sunni statesman.

Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah denies his Shiite group had any role in it and has vowed never to hand the men over.

SHOTLIST

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Wide exterior of the Lebanese Parliament

2. Lebanese flag

++INTERIOR SHOTS++

3. Wide of the cabinet meeting

4. Close of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora

5. Various of cabinet meeting

6. Wide of media conference with Lebanese Information Minister, Ghazi Aridi

7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ghazi Aridi, Lebanese Information Minister:

"The Lebanese government believes that it is time for the Security Council to help to establish the International Tribunal and make it a reality. Therefore we are submitting our request to the Security Council and to put the Tribunal on track."

8. Cutaway cameramen

9. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Ghazi Aridi, Lebanese information minister

"The continuing delays (in regard to) the establishment of the (international) tribunal will have a negative affect on the stability in Lebanon, the achievement of justice, the credibility of the United Nations and the peace and security in the region."

10. Ghazi Aridi leaving media conference

STORYLINE

Lebanon's Prime Minister Fuad Saniora formally asked the UN Security Council on Monday to impose an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Saniora sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon asking that the tribunal be established, Information Minister Ghazi Aridi told reporters.

"The Lebanese government believes that it is time for the Security Council to help to establish the International Tribunal and make it a reality. Therefore we are submitting our request to the Security Council and to put the Tribunal on track," added Aridi.

He said the continuing delays in establishing the international tribunal was having, "a negative affect on the stability in Lebanon, the achievement of justice, the credibility of the United Nations and the peace and security in the region".

The request follows Saniora's failure to win opposition support for the international court.

Saniora's move, which effectively bypasses the divided legislature, is bound to further deepen a fierce power struggle between the prime minister's Western-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition.

The issue of an international tribunal that would try suspects in the 2005 assassination of Hariri has sharply polarised Lebanon.

It is at the core of a deep political crisis between the government and opposition groups - a conflict that has taken on an increasingly sectarian tone and erupted into street battles, killing 11 people in recent months.

Saniora's letter to Ban is the second in recent weeks.

On April 10, Saniora sent a letter to Ban asking the Security Council "to study alternative means and ways that will lead, without any delay, to the creation of the tribunal".

In that letter, he also accused the opposition-ally Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri of "paralyzing" the assembly because he refused to convene a session to ratify the tribunal.

Also last month, 70 of parliament's 128 members sent a memorandum to Ban demanding UN action to establish the tribunal.

In his letter of Monday, Saniora again blamed Berri for parliament's failure to ratify the tribunal.

"For all practical purposes the domestic route to ratification had reached a dead end, with no prospect for a meeting of parliament to complete formal ratification," Saniora said in his letter written in English, a copy of which was faxed to The Associated Press.

SHOTLIST

1. Arrival of convoy with Alexander Sultanov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister

2. Sultanov walking with officials

3. Pan from cameramen and photographers to Sultanov and Fawzi Salloukh, former Lebanese Foreign Minister

4. Mid of Sultanov

5. Mid of Salloukh

6. Wide of meeting

7. Cutaway cameramen

8. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic), Alexander Sultanov, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister:

"We discussed the international tribunal and other internal affairs. We agreed on the continuation of national dialogue, a dialogue of all the problems in Lebanon, because dialogue is the only way to save the national consensus and unity."

9. Cameramen

10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Fawzi Salloukh, former Lebanese Foreign Minister:

"Russia will take all necessary action to help and support in finding a solution to the problem."

11. Convoy leaving

12. Presidential palace

13. Sultanov at meeting with Lebanese President Emile Lahoud

14. Mid of Lahoud

15. Mid of Sultanov

16. Exterior, Prime Minister's office building

17. Lebanese flag

18. Various of meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora

19. Exterior of Ein El-Tineh Palace

20. Various of meeting with parliament speaker, Nabih Berri

STORYLINE:

Envoys from Russia and the UN were involved in Beirut on Tuesday in what may be a last-ditch attempt to win approval from Lebanon's opposing camps for an international tribunal into the assassination of Lebanon's prime minister, Rafik Hariri, a subject that's divided Lebanese opinion and which threatens the country's stability.

The parliament has put off approving a draft agreement with the United Nations, paralyzed by a political crisis between the government, which wants a multi-national tribunal to prosecute suspects in the 2005 assassination, and the Hezbollah-led opposition, which wants more discussion first.

The Western-backed government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and the parliamentary majority have asked the United Nations to impose the Hariri tribunal and bypass the Lebanese legislature but opposition leaders have warned that such intervention could spell more trouble for the country.

Clashes over the issue have already caused nine deaths.

Opposition campaigners have been camping outside Saniora's office since December, 2006, paralyzing large parts of the capital's commercial district to demand his resignation but Saniora has refused to step down.

Russia's deputy foreign minister, Alexander Sultanov arrived for talks in Beirut with various Lebanese officials and the former Lebanese foreign minister Fawzi Salloukh.

Sultanov said that Russia was eager to help find a compromise, not impose a solution, stressing that the Lebanese need to find consensus through dialogue.

"We discussed the international tribunal," he said. "We agreed upon the continuation of the national dialogue, a dialogue of all the problems in Lebanon, because dialogue is the only way to save the national consensus and unity."

Fawzi Salloukh, who resigned as Lebanon's foreign minister, said that Russia would do what is necessary to help and support in finding a solution to the problem.

Russia, with a veto on UN Security Council resolutions, has enjoyed good relations with Lebanon and Syria, which has been widely accused of involvement in the assassination.

Sultanov also met with Lebanon's President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri. He is then expected to travel to Syria, which remains an important player despite the withdrawal of its army from Lebanon in the wake of Hariri's assassination.

Along with Sultanov, the top UN legal chief Nicolas Michel was flying in later Tuesday to Beirut to help overcome the impasse.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, is scheduled to visit Syria next week, after a trip to Lebanon in March.

The anti-Syrian majority in Parliament blames Damascus for killing Hariri, an accusation Syria vehemently denies, and say the Syrians were using their Lebanese allies to undermine the formation of the tribunal.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide of skyline

2. Traffic on street

3. Wide of newspaper stand

4. Newspaper headline reading in English: "UN signs deal on Hariri court, raising pressure for ratification"

5. Tilt down on newspapers

6. People reading newspapers

7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Farouk Fehmi, Vox pop:

"I support the international tribunal if it reveals those who killed Prime Minister (Rafik) Hariri, but if it is going to be politically biased I am against it."

8. Policeman directing traffic

9. Set up shot of Lebanese Telecommunications Minister Marwan Hamadeh

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Marwan Hamadeh, Minister of Telecommunications:

"I think it is a very important victory for Lebanon, for its legitimate government and especially for international justice and I think it paves the way for the ratification of the convention and the establishment of the international tribunal."

11. Cutaway of hands

12. SOUNDBITE (English) Marwan Hamadeh, Minister of Telecommunications:

"If, by force or by any other means, the opposition prevents it we will go back to the UN (United Nations) Security Council to have it adopted under Chapter Seven."

13. Wide pan of protesters' tents in downtown Beirut

14. Various exteriors of Lebanese prime minister's office, surrounded by barbed wire

STORYLINE:

Some Lebanese residents on Wednesday welcomed the signing of an agreement by the United Nations to set up an international tribunal to prosecute the suspected killers of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Last week, Saniora sent a signed copy of the agreement for creating the court to the United Nations. U.N. Undersecretary-General for Legal Affairs Nicolas Michel signed the agreement in New York on Tuesday and returned it to Lebanon for ratification.

"UN signs deal on Hariri court, raising pressure for ratification," hailed the headline in the Lebanese newspaper "The Daily Star".

The tribunal aims to try suspects in the February 14, 2005, assassination of Hariri, who was killed along with 22 other people in a massive truck bomb in downtown Beirut.

Many in Lebanon suspect Syria was behind the killings. Syria has denied involvement.

The tribunal has become a major point of contention in Lebanon's power struggle between the anti-Syrian government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, which supports the creation of the UN-backed court, and pro-Syrian factions, including the Shiite Hezbollah movement.

One resident, Farouk Fehmi, was apprehensive about giving the tribunal his full support.

"I support the international tribunal if it reveals those who killed Prime Minister Hariri, but if it is going to be politically biased I am against it," he said.

Lebanese Minister of Telecommunications Marwan Hamadeh said that the agreement was "a very important victory for Lebanon, for its legitimate government and specially for international justice".

"If, by force or by any means, the opposition prevents it (the formation of the international tribunal) we will go back to the UN Security Council to have it adopted under Chapter Seven," Hamadeh added.

Under Chapter Seven the UN Security Council has broader power to decide what measures are to be taken in situations involving "threats to the peace, breaches of the peace, or acts of aggression".

In such situations, the Council is not limited to recommendations but may take action, including the use of armed force "to maintain or restore international peace and security".

In November, Hezbollah and its allies quit the Cabinet as it was moving to approve the tribunal after Saniora rejected their demand for a new national unity government which would give their camp veto power over major government decisions.

The Hezbollah-led opposition has staged a campaign of protests for the past two months aiming to bring down Saniora's government and replace it with one in which they would hold one-third plus one of the seats, allowing them to veto major decisions.

Hezbollah, which is worried the tribunal will be politicised and used against it, says the government should not consider the tribunal until such a government is formed.

The protests turned violent in January when eight people were killed in clashes between opposition and government supporters, raising fears that the political crisis could once again push Lebanon into civil war.

The fate of the tribunal now rests with the Lebanese, with ratification requiring a vote in Parliament.

Ratification requires a vote from Parliament, but Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri - a Hezbollah ally - has refused to convene the legislature, where it would be brought to a vote.

SHOTLIST

++NIGHT SHOTS++

1. Exterior shot of Prime Minister's office in Beirut

2. Mid shot of Lebanese soldiers and armoured vehicle in position around Prime Minister's office

3. Mid shot of Lebanese soldiers

4. Wide shot of Lebanese soldiers and armoured vehicle

5. Wide shot of Prime Minister's office

6. Wide shot of Lebanese cabinet meeting

7. Mid shot of Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora sitting at head of meeting

8. Mid shot of picture of murdered Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel placed in his position around meeting table

9. Various of cabinet ministers around table

10. Mid shot of picture of murdered Lebanese Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel

11. Cameras

12. Mid shot of Lebanese Minister of Information, Ghazi Aridi, at press conference

13. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Ghazi Aridi, Lebanese Minister of Information:

"(The cabinet) approved the creation of an international tribunal between Lebanon and the United Nations and authorised the Justice Minister to sign this agreement with the United Nations and also to send this approval to the Lebanese Parliament for authorisation.''

14. Cameras

STORYLINE

The Lebanese government on Saturday approved an international tribunal for suspects in the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafik Hariri, despite warnings of mass protests by its opponent Hezbollah.

Last-ditch attempts to reach a compromise between the government and the pro-Syrian camp, led by Hezbollah, appeared to fail as the cabinet moved forward with its meeting for a UN created court.

The tribunal is a key bone of contention in the power struggle between allies and opponents of Syria in Lebanon.

Anti-Syrian forces - mainly Christian and Sunni Muslim - dominate the government, but are facing a campaign by the mainly Shiite pro-Syrian camp to bring the government down.

The political crisis became potentially explosive this week with the assassination of an anti-Syrian politician, raising worries of more violence that could tear apart the country's fragile sectarian seams.

The anti-Syrian bloc brought out some 800,000 people for a mass rally at the funeral of the politician, Pierre Gemayel, on Thursday.

Hezbollah has shown it can bring out similar numbers for its protests - and if it goes ahead with its threatened demonstrations, many fear it could start a spiral of street action.

Earlier on Saturday, two key anti-Syrian Lebanese politicians met with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah and a Syria supporter, in an apparent attempt to find a compromise.

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora offered to put off the contentious Cabinet vote for several days if six pro-Hezbollah ministers who quit the government earlier this month returned.

Hezbollah demands that the government be changed to give it and its allies more power, or else it says it will launch mass protests to topple Saniora.

But the reconciliation bid appeared to have failed, and the Cabinet meeting approved a UN draft for the tribunal.

In the eyes of Hezbollah, the approval of the tribunal amounts to a rejection of its demands for a greater representation in the Cabinet.

The Shiite militant group and Lebanon's pro-Syrian president, Emile Lahoud, have denounced the current government as unconstitutional, because the constitution underlines that the government must represent all of Lebanon's main communities.

"(The cabinet) approved the creation of an international tribunal between Lebanon and the United Nations and authorised the Justice Minister to sign this agreement with the United Nations and also to send this approval to the Lebanese Parliament for authorisation,'' Information Minister Ghazi Aridi said after the vote.

Aridi's statement went on to say that Prime Minister Saniora insisted the approval of the tribunal was not meant as a provocation against Hezbollah and its allies.

For opponents of Syria, the court is a major priority, and they hope it will uncover the truth behind the February 2005 assassination of Hariri in a massive bomb blast that killed 22 others, which they accuse Damascus of orchestrating. Syria has denied any role in the killing.

The court, which will sit outside Lebanon and have a majority of non-Lebanese judges, is to try four Lebanese generals - top pro-Syrian security chiefs under Lahoud including his Presidential Guard commander, who have been under arrest for 14 months, accused of involvement in

Hariri's murder.

The UN investigation into Hariri's death has also implicated Brigadier General Assaf Shawkat, Syria's military intelligence chief and the brother-in-law of Syrian President Bashar Assad. But Shawkat is not in custody.

Hariri's death was the first in a string of attacks that killed five other prominent anti-Syrian figures - with Gemayel the most recent, in a bold daytime shooting on Tuesday.

Many Lebanese blame Syria in all the killings, which Damascus denies.

Since Gemayel's assassination, some ministers in Saniora's Cabinet have moved into the heavily guarded prime minister's building in downtown Beirut, fearing more slayings.

SHOTLIST:

1. Wide of funeral

2. Wife of Walid Eido, assassinated legislator, waving from balcony

3. Women crying and waving

4. Ambulance covered by Lebanese flag and poster of Eido

5. Youths chanting slogans whilst travelling with ambulance

6. Wide of funeral

7. Mid of Saad Hariri, son of Rafik Hariri, the assassinated former Lebanese prime minister, walking along in procession

8. Wide of funeral procession

9. SOUNDBITE: (English) Walid Jumblatt, Druse politician:

"Syrian regime with their allies are trying to reduce our majority in the parliament. They have killed yesterday a prominent member of parliament. They can kill three more, if they kill three more members we will lose the majority and this is their calculation so that the government of Saniora will fall down."

10. Mid of Hezbollah MP bloc's flag

11. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Hussein Hajj Hassan, Hezbollah MP:

"We condemn the terror act which led to the killing of legislator Walid Eido, his son, two of his bodyguards and several Lebanese citizens. And we think that these crimes are taking place and are synchronised by the political exposure in the country. We think that the politicians are invited to find a political solution to the crisis in order to deal with all the disputed issues, as well as dealing with the security exposure. Some intelligence parties are getting benefits and committing these acts of terror and committing seditious acts against the Lebanese."

12. Tilt down of Al-Khachekji Mosque, mourners, security

13. Wide of funeral procession, coffin being carried

14. Various mid shots of coffins being carried to mosque

15. Top shot of three coffins inside the mosque (containing bodies of Walid Eido, his son, and one of the bodyguards killed)

16. Relatives kissing a coffin

17. Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian majority bloc, in parliament arriving at the mosque

18. Worshippers praying at funeral

19. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian majority bloc in parliament:

"No one should think that this people will kneel and be frightened. I tell the criminals: you will be punished and you will be dragged to prisons and will face justice, God willing."

20. Body being lowered into grave

21. Eido's son crying

22. Another body being lowered into grave

23. Wide pan of cemetery

STORYLINE:

Tens of thousands of mourners bade farewell on Thursday to victims of a powerful car bombing in Beirut that killed a prominent anti-Syrian legislator and nine others as the Lebanese government - reeling from another blow targeting its supporters - sought international help.

A bomb ripped through Walid Eido's car on Wednesday as he drove from a seaside sports club, also killing his 35-year-old son, two bodyguards and six passers-by.

Thursday's funeral procession swelled to tens of thousands of mourners who escorted coffins carrying the bodies of Eido, his son and one of the bodyguards killed.

The mourners followed ambulances covered with Lebanese flags that drove from the American University Hospital in West Beirut to a mosque at the Shohada Cemetery several kilometres (miles) away for a prayer service and internment.

It drove down the main thoroughfare of Corniche Mazraa in the Muslim sector of the capital, where pictures of the assassinated politicians were posted on walls and overpasses and Eido's widow waved to the crowds from a balcony.

Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian majority bloc in parliament to which Eido belonged, Druse politician Walid Jumblatt and other prominent anti-Syrian leaders also marched in the procession.

Jumblatt, an anti-Syrian MP, said that if the Syrian regime killed three more MPs, "we will lose the majority and this is their calculation so that the government of Saniora will fall down."

One Hezbollah MP, whose party is pro-Syrian, also condemned the killings.

"Some intelligence parties are getting benefits and committing these acts of terror and acting seditiously against the Lebanese," Hussein Hajj Hassan said.

At the Al-Khachekji mosque, male relatives sobbed and bent to kiss the coffins laid next to one another.

The spiritual leader of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims, Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheik Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, led the prayers, with Saad Hariri, son of assassinated former prime minister Rafik Hariri, at his side.

Saad Hariri said Lebanon would not kneel before the killers and promised they would be brought to justice.

"No one should think that this people will kneel and be frightened," he said. "I tell the criminals, you will be punished and you will be dragged to prisons and will face justice, God willing."

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora has called for an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers and the international community to assist in the investigation of Eido's assassination.

The blast that killed Eido was a new blow to the stability of an already conflict-torn nation.

It came just three days after the government, together with the United Nations, started putting together an international tribunal ordered by the UN Security Council to try suspects in the killing of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut two years ago - a move strongly opposed by Syria and its allies in Lebanon.

Eido was a prominent supporter of the tribunal, a staunch follower of Hariri and the seventh anti-Syrian figure killed in Lebanon in the past two years.

Many in Lebanon have accused Syria of being behind the killings, a claim Damascus denies.

Lebanon's majority coalition blamed Syria for Wednesday's assassination.

Syria controlled Lebanon for 29 years until it was forced out after Hariri's assassination, and its Lebanese opponents believe it is seeking to regain domination by plunging the country into chaos.

Businesses, schools and government offices were closed on Thursday after the government declared a day of national mourning.

The killings were likely to further enflame Lebanon's bitter power struggle between Saniora's Western-backed government and its Syrian-backed opponents, led by the Hezbollah militant group.

As the fighting in the north, pitting the Lebanese Army against Palestinian militants, with Palestinian refugees under siege, continues, many fear the violence there and in Beirut could push the polarised nation, with a fragile balance of ethnic and religious groups, into a new civil war.

SHOTLIST:

1. Tilt down of Al-Khachekji Mosque, mourners, security

2. Wide of funeral procession, coffin being carried

3. Various mid shots of coffins being carried to mosque

4. Top shot of three coffins inside the mosque (containing bodies of Walid Eido, his son, and one of the bodyguards killed)

5. Relatives kissing a coffin

6. Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian majority bloc, in parliament arriving at the mosque

7. Various of worshippers praying at funeral

8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian majority bloc in parliament:

"No one should think that this people will kneel and be frightened. I tell the criminals: you will be punished and you will be dragged to prisons and will face justice, God willing."

9. Body being lowered into grave

10. Eido's son crying

11. Another body being lowered into grave

12. Wide pan of cemetery

STORYLINE:

Tens of thousands of mourners bade farewell on Thursday to victims of a powerful car bombing in Beirut that killed a prominent anti-Syrian legislator and nine others as the Lebanese government - reeling from another blow targeting its supporters - sought international help.

A bomb ripped through Walid Eido's car on Wednesday as he drove from a seaside sports club, also killing his 35-year-old son, two bodyguards and six passers-by.

Thursday's funeral procession swelled to tens of thousands of mourners who escorted coffins carrying the bodies of Eido, his son and one of the bodyguards killed.

The mourners followed ambulances covered with Lebanese flags that drove from the American University Hospital in West Beirut to a mosque at the Shohada Cemetery several kilometers away for a prayer service and internment.

At the mosque, male relatives sobbed and bent to kiss the coffins laid next to one another.

The spiritual leader of Lebanon's Sunni Muslims, Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheik Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, led the prayers, with Saad Hariri, son of assassinated former prime minister Rafik Hariri, at his side.

Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian majority bloc in parliament to which Eido belonged, said Lebanon would not kneel before the killers and promised they would be brought to justice.

"No one should think that this people will kneel and be frightened," he said. "I tell the criminals, you will be punished and you will be dragged to prisons and will face justice, God willing."

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora has called for an emergency meeting of Arab foreign ministers and the international community to assist in the investigation of Eido's assassination.

The blast that killed Eido was a new blow to the stability of this conflict-torn nation.

It came just three days after the government, together with the United Nations, started putting together an international tribunal ordered by the U.N. Security Council to try suspects in the killing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut two years ago - a move strongly opposed by Syria and its allies in Lebanon.

Eido was a prominent supporter of the tribunal, a staunch follower of Hariri and the seventh anti-Syrian figure killed in Lebanon in the past two years.

Many in Lebanon have accused Syria of being behind the killings, a claim Damascus denies.

Lebanon's majority coalition blamed Syria for Wednesday's assassination.

Syria controlled Lebanon for 29 years until it was forced out after Hariri's assassination, and its Lebanese opponents believe it is seeking to regain domination by plunging the country into chaos.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of meeting between Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Saniora (right) and parliament majority leader Saad Hariri

2. Hariri sat in blue suit

3. Hariri with Saniora

4. Wide of news conference

5. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, parliament majority leader:

"Today what happened was an attempt to kill our soldiers and policemen. This is a blow to Lebanese security. The International Tribunal is coming. Nobody will stop it. There is a conspiracy that they are making right and left."

6. Press cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, parliament majority leader:

"I don't think that there is any support for Fatah Al-Islam from any Lebanese political party and whoever supports them, let him announce it."

8. Hariri leaving news conference

STORYLINE:

Saad Hariri, head of Lebanon's largest Sunni political faction and leader of the country's parliamentary majority, urged supporters on Sunday to cooperate with authorities after renewed violence in northern Lebanon on Sunday.

The fighting between security forces and Fatah Islam militants left more than 30 people dead and threatens to further destabilise the country.

Lebanon is facing its worst political fall out between the Western-backed government and pro-Syrian opposition since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.

Street battles were fought in Tripoli on Sunday, a predominantly Sunni Muslim city, while guns pounded shells on a Fatah Islam stronghold located in a Palestinian refugee camp nearby.

Hariri, who met for talks with Prime Minister Fouad Saniora in Beirut, told reporters afterwards that the violence may have been linked to efforts to set up an international tribunal that would try the killers of his father, former Premier Rafik Hariri.

Hariri was assassinated in February 2005.

"This is a blow to Lebanese security. The International Tribunal is coming. Nobody will stop it," Hariri said.

SHOTLIST

LBC

1. Wide pan of Martyrs' square

2. Close of flags, pull out to wide of crowd

3. Pull out from people on monument of wide of rally

AP TELEVISION

4. Lebanese army helicopter flying above the crowds

5. Tilt down from Al-Amin mosque to Lebanese security forces

6. Lebanese army Armoured Personnel Carriers

7. Bahiya Hariri (Rafik Hariri's sister) near the grave

8. Pan from Walid Jumblatt to graves

9. Crowds around the grave

10. Medium of Hariri's grave

11. Saad Hariri with Hariri's family reading versus of Quran near the grave

12. Medium of Saad Hariri

13. People carrying flags

FUTURE TV

14.Mid of politicians including Samir Geagea, Bahiya Hariri and Saad Hariri during one minute silence UPSOUND OF BELLS RINGING

15. Pan across politicians

LBC

15. Al-Amin mosque

16. Pull our from picture of Hariri on building to crowd

AP TELEVISION

17. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic), Samir Geagea, Leader of Lebanese forces party

"We are saying to the Syrian regime that the eye of Lebanon will resist your drill and it did resist and will resist till the rising of the real Lebanon and the state of Lebanon."

18. Wide of waving flags

19. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Walid Jumblatt, member of Parliament

" We came here to say that we will not surrender to the terrorist, the killing bombs, to the Syrian or non-Syrian parties. We advise Sayyed (Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Secretary General) to give his missiles to the Lebanese army."

20. Pan of crowds

POOL

21.SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, "We are sticking to the truth to know who was behind the assassination of Rafik Hariri and all the martyrs who were killed in defending Lebanon and to the justice to suit the killer and to the international tribunal to stop the cycle of terrorism, blood and the serial assassinations that killed our elite for 30 years."

AP TELEVISION

22. Prime Ministers' office building with pro-Hezbollah protesters tent in the foreground

23. Tents behind barbed wires

24. SOUNDBITE (Arabic), Hussein al-Haj Hassan, Hezbollah member of parliament "There is absolutely no attempt (by the opposition) to impede the international tribunal...there are serious observations. The discussion that is taking place within constitutional frameworks could lead to the approval of a revised bill for the problem to establish an international court for prosecuting the killers, not for political exploitation."

LBC

25. Various of crowds leaving

STORYLINE

Tens of thousands of Lebanese packed into a Beirut city square and and held aloft the nation's flag Wednesday to mark the emotive, politically-charged second anniversary of Rafik Hariri's assassination.

Fears for public safety at such a mass gathering were high, the day after two bombs in Beirut left three people dead, and prompted the government to deploy hundreds of troops in case of further violence.

The country's continuing and long-running power struggle was played out in Martyrs' Square, where a mass of government supporters gathered next to Hariri's grave.

A much smaller number of mainly pro-Hezbollah opposition supporters remained camped in tents close by to demand the government's resignation.

Backed by armoured cars, soldiers erected a razor wire barrier to separate the two groups. The opposition made clear it wanted the anniversary to pass without violence.

Politicians, including members of the former leader's family, gathered at Rafik Hariri's graveside for prayer.

At exactly 1055 GMT - the time of the fatal explosion - the crowd fell silent except for a muezzin's Islamic call to prayer and the tolling of a church bell.

Then the country's leading politicians addressed the crowd.

Walid Jumblatt, a pro-government member of Parliament, made a pointed attack on Hezbollah, " We came here to say that we will not surrender to the terrorist, the killing bombs, to the Syrian or non-Syrian parties. We advise Sayed (Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah Secretary General) to give his missiles to the Lebanese army."

Said Hariri, the son of the former leader said "We are sticking to the truth to know who was behind the assassination of Rafik Hariri and all the martyrs who were killed in defending Lebanon and to the justice to suit the killer and to the international tribunal to stop the cycle of terrorism, blood and the serial assassinations that killed our elite for 30 years."

The UN investigation into his father's assassination has become a thorny point of contention in Lebanon's power struggle.

Hezbollah's power struggle with the government of Fuad Saniora is seen in the region as the militant Shiite group's muscle-flexing attempt to build on its success in the ground war with Israel in south Lebanon during the summer war.

Some observers say Hezbollah is trying to secure a position of strength in the cabinet with the power of veto which could be utilised against the international tribunal.

However, Hussein al-Haj Hassan, a Hezbollah member of parliament told AP Television News "There is absolutely no attempt (by the opposition) to impede the international tribunal...there are serious observations. The discussion that is taking place within constitutional frameworks could lead to the approval of a revised bill for the problem to establish an international court for prosecuting the killers, not for political exploitation."

The probe is slowly proceeding, but Lebanon's approval of UN-backed court to try the suspects has been held up by the deep internal divisions between the pro-American government and the opposition, led by the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah.

Supporters of Saad Hariri and of the government, now made up of his allies accuse Syria of being behind his father's slaying.

Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon two months after Hariri's death after intensive regional and international pressure, but denies any involvement his death.

SHOTLIST

LBC

1. Wide pan of Martyrs' square

2. Close of flags, pull out to wide of crowd

3. Pull out from people on monument of wide of rally

AP TELEVISION

4. Lebanese army helicopter flying above the crowds

5. Tilt down from Al-Amin mosque to Lebanese security forces

6. Lebanese army Armoured Personnel Carriers

7. Bahiya Hariri (Rafik Hariri's sister) near the grave

8. Pan from Walid Jumblatt, a pro-government member of Parliament, to graves

9. Crowds around the grave

10. Medium of Hariri's grave

11. Saad Hariri with Hariri's family reading versus of Quran near the grave

12. Medium of Saad Hariri

13. People carrying flags

FUTURE TV

14. Mid of politicians including Samir Geagea, Bahiya Hariri and Saad Hariri through bullet-proof glass during one minute silence UPSOUND OF BELLS RINGING

LBC

15. Al-Amin mosque

16. Pull out of crowd

17. Pull our from picture of Hariri on building to crowd

POOL

18. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese parliamentary majority leader and son of Rafik Hariri:

"We are sticking to the truth to know who was behind the assassination of Rafik Hariri and all the martyrs who were killed in defending Lebanon and to the justice to suit the killer and to the international tribunal to stop the cycle of terrorism, blood and the serial assassinations that killed our elite for 30 years."

AP TELEVISION

19. Prime Minister's office building with pro-Hezbollah protesters tent in the foreground

20. Tents behind barbed wires

21. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Hussein al-Haj Hassan, Hezbollah member of parliament

"There is absolutely no attempt (by the opposition) to impede the international tribunal...there are serious observations. The discussion that is taking place within constitutional frameworks could lead to the approval of a revised bill for the problem to establish an international court for prosecuting the killers, not for political exploitation."

LBC

22. Various of crowds leaving Martyrs' Square

STORYLINE

Tens of thousands of Lebanese packed into a Beirut city square and held aloft the nation's flag Wednesday to mark the emotive, politically-charged second anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri's assassination.

Hariri was Lebanon's most prominent politician and was killed by a massive truck bomb on 14 February, 2005.

Fears for public safety at such a mass gathering were high, the day after two bombs in Beirut left three people dead, and prompted the government to deploy hundreds of troops in case of further violence.

The country's continuing and long-running power struggle was played out in Martyrs' Square, where a mass of government supporters gathered next to Hariri's grave.

A much smaller number of mainly pro-Hezbollah opposition supporters remained camped in tents close by to demand the government's resignation.

Backed by armoured cars, soldiers erected a razor wire barrier to separate the two groups.

The opposition made clear it wanted the anniversary to pass without violence.

Politicians, including members of the former leader's family, gathered at Rafik Hariri's graveside for prayer.

At exactly 1055 GMT - the time of the fatal explosion - the crowd fell silent except for a muezzin's Islamic call to prayer and the tolling of a church bell.

Then the country's leading politicians addressed the crowd.

"We are sticking to the truth to know who was behind the assassination of Rafik Hariri and all the martyrs who were killed in defending Lebanon and to the justice to suit the killer and to the international tribunal to stop the cycle of terrorism, blood and the serial assassinations that killed our elite for 30 years," said Said Hariri, Lebanese parliamentary majority leader and son of the former leader.

The UN investigation into his father's assassination has become a thorny point of contention in Lebanon's power struggle.

Hezbollah's power struggle with the government of Fuad Saniora is seen in the region as the militant Shiite group's muscle-flexing attempt to build on its success in the ground war with Israel in south Lebanon during the summer war.

Some observers say Hezbollah is trying to secure a position of strength in the cabinet with the power of veto which could be utilised against the international tribunal.

However, Hussein al-Haj Hassan, a Hezbollah member of parliament told AP Television News: "There is absolutely no attempt (by the opposition) to impede the international tribunal... there are serious observations. The discussion that is taking place within constitutional frameworks could lead to the approval of a revised bill for the problem to establish an international court for prosecuting the killers, not for political exploitation."

The probe is slowly proceeding, but Lebanon's approval of UN-backed court to try the suspects has been held up by the deep internal divisions between the pro-American government and the opposition, led by the Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah.

Supporters of Saad Hariri and of the government, now made up of his allies accuse Syria of being behind his father's slaying.

Syria was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon two months after Hariri's death after intensive regional and international pressure, but denies any involvement his death.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide exterior of Lebanese prime minister's office in Beirut

2. Lebanese prime minister Fuad Saniora taking his place at news conference

3. Cutaway of cameramen

4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fuad Saniora, Lebanese prime minister:

"Do not be afraid and do not despair. We have a right to stand strong in the defence of our independence and our democratic system."

5. Cutaway of camera

6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fuad Saniora, Lebanese Prime Minister:

"Lebanon's independence is threatened and its democratic system is in danger. We will not accept the return of the old regency to our country in order not to make it a space for conflicts."

7. Cutaway hands writing

8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Fuad Saniora, Lebanese Prime Minister:

"We will not allow them to topple the democratic system, its organisations and its basis. We will not accept a state inside a state. We are deep-rooted to our legitimate and constitutional government for all Lebanon and for all the Lebanese"

9. Wide of news conference

10. Walking shot of Saad Hariri, the son of the slain former premier Rafik Hariri, who heads the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority in Lebanon

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Saad Hariri, son of the slain former premier Rafik Hariri:

This is a democratic country and they are free to demonstrate any way they want. This is what democracy is all about. In regards of bringing down the government, they wouldn't be able to bring down the government because the government has the support of the majority of the parliament and the majority of the Lebanese people"

12. Cutaway of Lebanese flag

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Saad Hariri, son of the slain former premier Rafik Hariri:

"We don't understand until now why they are demonstrating and for what reason. For us it is obvious because they don't want the international tribunal. They don't want 1701. They don't want Paris 3. What is the vision of this group (Hezbollah) for the future of Lebanon? Nobody has a clue, except to protect the interests of Syria in Lebanon"

14. Cutaway

STORYLINE

Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora warned on Thursday that Lebanon's democracy was in danger after Hezbollah's call for protests to bring down his government.

"Lebanon's independence is threatened and its democratic system is in danger," he said in a nationally televised address from his office on the eve of an expected massive protest by Hezbollah and its allies aimed at ousting his cabinet.

"Do not be afraid and do not despair. We have a rightful cause," he said.

Earlier on Thursday in a television broadcast the leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, called on the Lebanese people to rally on Friday afternoon in Beirut's main square for a peaceful protest to force Saniora's government to resign.

Saniora, who is backed by the United States and an anti-Syrian parliamentary majority, has been locked in a political power struggle with Hezbollah, which is supported by Syria and Iran, and its allies.

The call for protests came after weeks of political tension between pro-Syrian groups in the opposition, led by the Shiite Muslim Hezbollah, and anti-Syrian factions supporting the government.

Last week, Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel was assassinated in a suburban Beirut street, renewing fears that the political crisis was carrying Lebanon back to the sectarian violence of the 1975-90 civil war.

Subsequently there have been scattered unrest in Christian areas of Beirut and Shiite Muslims have rioted in their neighbourhoods.

Meanwhile, the leader of Lebanon's anti-Syrian bloc warned on Thursday that Syria was behind planned Hezbollah protests to bring down the

government, trying to restore its power in the country.

Saad Hariri, son of the slain former premier Rafik Hariri, vowed the campaign would fail, but called for restraint among his supporters over the Hezbollah demonstration.

In an interview with The Associated Press, he said Friday would be a day to show "our resolve .... our calm."

"They won't be able to bring down the government, because the government has the support of the majority of the parliament and the majority of the

Lebanese people,'' he said.

The anti-Syrian bloc dominates parliament and the government, elected on broad support among Lebanon's Christians and Sunni Muslims.

Hezbollah and pro-Syrian parties are demanding more power in the government.

Hariri said the pro-government groups would not react to the Hezbollah-led opposition protests, saying Syria hoped to foment a clash between them.

Syria's nearly three-decade domination of Lebanon ended last year, but the government's backers say Damascus is trying to restore influence, along with that of its ally Iran. Syria's allies in Lebanon say the United States is now dominating the government and calling the shots.

Hariri predicted that Hezbollah's demonstrations would run their course until they realised they could not topple the government .

"What is the vision of this group (Hezbollah) for the future of Lebanon? Nobody has a clue, except to protect the interests of Syria in Lebanon," Hariri said.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide of area were bomb blast happened

2. Mid of men looking at the remains of a car

3. Cordon next to remains of a vehicle

4. People inspecting damage

5. Dented parked cars along the road

6. Mangled vehicles

7. Pan of damage

8.Damaged building

9. People looking at damage

10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Elie Roukoz, Beirut Resident:

" As you see the whole buildings are damaged, we felt that the ground is shaking up and down."

11. Cars along street in Beirut

12. Various of man reading paper

13. Pan of papers on the news stand

14. Mid of front page reading (ENGLISH) " MP Antoine Ghamen assassinated"

15. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Samer Mrad, Beirut Resident

" We want to see and to know the hands behind such acts and who has the interest. This is only affecting the poor and miserable people."

16. Lebanese security forces convoy along street

17. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon."

18. Cutaway

19. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The International Tribunal, which will try those cowardly criminal killers, will also try those who sabotage the presidential elections."

20. Various of locked up shops

STORYLINE

Lebanese leaders pledged on Thursday to press ahead with a divisive election for president, to be held in Parliament in coming days, despite the car bombing assassination of an anti-Syrian lawmaker.

Wednesday's bomb killed Antoine Ghanem, an anti-Syria lawmaker, and six others in a Christian neighbourhood of Beirut and threatened to derail efforts to bring the country's rival parties together to agree on a head of state ahead of time, before voting is set to begin next week.

Investigators were at the sight examining the remains of the blast.

At least 67 were wounded in the explosion, which severely damaged buildings and set cars ablaze during rush hour on a busy street in the Sin el-Fil neighbourhood.

Ghanem, 64, a member of the right-wing Christian Phalange party, had returned from refuge abroad only two days earlier. He was the eighth anti-Syria figure and fourth governing coalition lawmaker to be assassinated in less than three years.

On Thursday Lebanese newspapers were focused entirely on the assassination.

Samer Mrad a Beirut resident said he wants to know who is behind the attack.

" We want to see and to know that hands behind such acts and who has the interest. This is only affecting the poor and miserable people," he said.

Coalition members blamed Syria for the death, but Damascus denied involvement, as it has for the previous seven assassinations, including the 2005 bombing death of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Prime Minister Fuad Saniora asked the United Nations secretary-general in a letter to add the Ghanem assassination to an international probe into Hariri's slaying and other political crimes in Lebanon.

On Wednesday Hariri's son, who now heads the main anti-Syrian alliance in the Lebanese parliament, called the perpetrators of the attack "cowardly criminal killers".

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon," Saad Hariri said.

Many people fear the divisions over the presidency could lead to creation of two rival governments, a grim threat to repeat the last two years of Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war when army units loyal to competing administrations battled it out.

President Emile Lahoud, an ally of Syria, is due to step down from the presidency by November 23 and government supporters see the vote as the opportunity to put one of their own in the post.

But Hezbollah and its allies have vowed to block any candidate they do not approve and they can do so by boycotting the ballots, preventing the needed two-thirds quorum of 85 votes.

If no candidate is agreed on by the time Lahoud steps down, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and his cabinet would automatically take on executive powers.

If that happens, opposition supporters have said Lahoud might appoint a second government, a step many fear would break up the country.

Schools, universities and many businesses in Christian areas of Beirut, plus in the Mount Lebanon region north of the capital, closed on Thursday in a day of mourning and to observe a strike called by the Phalange Party.

A funeral was to be held Friday.

SHOTLIST

1. Tilt-up of rubble to people setting up security cordon

2. Pan from wreckage of one car to wreckage of another car

3. Soldiers shouting orders

4. Paramedic running to help, pan to vehicle being hosed

5. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon."

6. Cutaway

7. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The International Tribunal, which will try those cowardly criminal killers, will also try those who sabotage the presidential elections."

8. Wide view from above blast site

STORYLINE

A powerful bomb killed an anti-Syria lawmaker and six others in a Christian neighbourhood of Beirut on Wednesday, threatening to derail an effort by an already deeply divided parliament to elect Lebanon's next president in voting to begin next week.

Antoine Ghanem, a 64-year-old member of the Christian Phalange party who had returned from refuge abroad only two days earlier, was the eighth

anti-Syria figure and fourth lawmaker from the governing coalition to be assassinated in less than three years.

Coalition members blamed Syria, but Damascus denied involvement, as it has for the previous seven assassinations, including the 2005 bombing of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a killing that ignited huge protests that forced Syria to withdraw its troops after a three-decade occupation.

Hariri's son, who now heads the main anti-Syrian alliance in the Lebanese parliament, called the perpetrators of Wednesday's attack "cowardly criminal killers".

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon," Saad Hariri said.

Many people fear the divisions over the presidency could lead to creation of two rival governments, a grim threat to repeat the last two years of

Lebanon's 1975-90 civil war when army units loyal to competing administrations battled it out.

President Emile Lahoud, an ally of Syria, is due to step down from the presidency by November 23 and government supporters see the vote as the opportunity to put one of their own in the post.

But Hezbollah and its allies have vowed to block any candidate they do not approve and they can do so by boycotting the ballots, preventing the needed two-thirds quorum of 85 votes.

If no candidate is agreed on by the time Lahoud steps down, Prime Minister Fuad Saniora and his cabinet would automatically take on executive powers.

If that happens, opposition supporters have said Lahoud might appoint a second government, a step many fear would break up the country.

SHOTLIST:

++PLEASE BE ADVISED, OTV IS A PRO-MICHEL AOUN (CHRISTIAN LEADER, ALLIED TO HEZBOLLAH) STATION++

OTV - NO ACCESS LEBANON

Beirut - 19 September 2007

1. Pan from car on fire to smoke and fire coming off another vehicle

2. Wide of another vehicle on fire, people in street

AP TELEVISION

Beirut - 19 September 2007

3. Tracking shot of vehicle on fire, smoke

4. Various of firemen trying to extinguish flames

5. Damaged building

6. Tilt-up of rubble to people setting up security cordon

7. Pan from wreckage of one car to wreckage of another car

8. Body of man lying on street

9. Body lying in front of car wreckage

10. Body lying on street under cover, tilt-up to soldiers shouting orders

11. Paramedic running to help, pan to vehicle being hosed

12. Tilt-down from damaged building to car still on fire being hosed.

13. Fireman hosing fire

14. Close-up of blood on tarmac

AP TELEVISION

FILE: Date and location unknown

15. Various of blast victim Antoine Ghanem, a member of the right-wing Christian Phalange Party

AP TELEVISION

Beirut - 19 September 2007

16. Set-up of Telecommunications minister, Marwan Hamadeh

17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Marwan Hamadeh, Telecommunications minister:

"Once more the Syrian regime is using its terrorist skills to assassinate one after the other the MPs belonging to the Lebanese independence movement majority. We lost an MP three months ago, we lost a minister seven months ago. We have been since the assassination of prime minister Hariri being targeted one after the other, in order to deplete the majority of its numbers and to impose a comeback of Syria over Lebanon. We will not surrender to Bashar Assad's terrorist threats to Lebanon."

18. Close-up of photo showing Hamadeh with former Lebanese Prime Minister, Rafik Hariri

AP TELEVISION

Beirut - 19 September 2007

19. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon."

20. Cutaway

21. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese lawmaker heading the main anti-Syrian alliance in Parliament:

"The International Tribunal, which will try those cowardly criminal killers, will also try those who sabotage the presidential elections."

AP TELEVISION

Beirut - 19 September 2007

22. Wide view from above blast site

23. View from above of emergency services and soldiers at the site

24. Wide view from above of the blast site

STORYLINE:

A powerful bomb killed a pro-government Parliament member and six others on Wednesday in a Christian suburb east of the Lebanese capital, security officials said.

The blast targeted Antoine Ghanem, 64, a member of the right-wing Christian Phalange Party, said the officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the press.

Ghanem was the eighth anti-Syrian figure and fourth lawmaker from the majority assassinated since 2005, reducing the ruling coalition's margin in

Parliament.

The Voice of Lebanon radio station, which is owned by the Phalange party, also confirmed Ghanem's death. The identities of the others killed were not immediately known.

The attack occurred six days before Parliament was scheduled to meet to elect a new president in a deeply divisive vote.

Security officials said 67 people were wounded in Wednesday's blast, half of which have left the hospital.

The explosion occurred at rush hour on a busy street in the Sin el-Fil district, severely damaging nearby buildings, setting several cars on fire and leaving the street littered with blood and debris.

Explosive experts were seen sifting through the engine of Ghanem's car, which was blown at least 50 metres (165 feet) away by the force of the explosion.

Bystanders, looking shocked, watched as ambulances and civil defence workers searched for more victims.

Former Lebanese President Amin Gemayel, who heads the Phalange Party, said Lebanon's democracy was at stake.

The former president's son, Cabinet minister and lawmaker Pierre Gemayel, was assassinated in November.

Syria condemned the attack, which it said was meant to sabotage efforts by the Lebanese people to reach agreement.

The assassination of anti-Syrian figures began with former prime minister Rafik Hariri, who was killed in a massive car bombing that year.

Syria's opponents in Lebanon have accused Damascus of being behind the killings, a claim Syria denies.

Hariri's death sparked massive protests that helped bring an end to Syria's nearly 30-year domination of Lebanon. Damascus was forced to withdraw its troops from Lebanon in 2005, and a government led by anti-Syrian politicians was elected.

Since then, the government of US-backed Prime Minister Fuad Saniora has been locked in a power struggle with the opposition, led by Syria's ally Hezbollah.

Government supporters have accused Syria of seeking to end Saniora's slim majority in parliament by killing off lawmakers in his coalition.

"Once more the Syrian regime is using its terrorist skills to assassinate one after the other, the MPs belonging to the Lebanese independence movement majority," Lebanese telecommunications minister Marwan Hamadeh told AP Television.

"We have been since the assassination of Prime minister Hariri being targeted one after the other, in order to deplete the majority of its numbers and to impose a come back of Syria over Lebanon. We will not surrender to (Syrian President) Bashar Assad's terrorist threats to Lebanon," he added.

Hariri's son, Saad Hariri, who now heads the main anti-Syrian alliance in the Lebanese Parliament, called the perpetrators of the attack "cowardly criminal killers".

In apparent reference to the power struggle for Lebanon by rivalling factions, he continued:

"The presidency does not belong to Saad Hariri, or to Hassan Nasrallah, or to Nabih Berri, or to Michel Aoun, or to any other party. The presidency belongs to the people of Lebanon."

After the assassination of Lebanese Parliament member Walid Eido in June, many majority legislators had to leave the country to spend the summer abroad for security reasons.

Others who stayed in Lebanon took extra security.

Ghanem was travelling on Wednesday in a car with regular license plates, his blue plate hidden in the trunk, apparently as a security measure.

Cabinet Minister Ahmed Fatfat told The Associated Press that Ghanem returned two days ago from abroad where he had been taking refuge for the past two months.

According to local papers, a landmark hotel near the Parliament building in downtown Beirut has been rented for majority members to protect them during the 60-day presidential election process, which begins on Tuesday.

Wednesday's bombing heightens tensions before the presidential vote that already threatens to throw the country into deeper turmoil.

Many fear divisions over the presidency could lead to the creation of two rival governments, a grim reminder of the last two years of the 1975-90 civil war when army units loyal to competing administrations battled it out.

Pro-Syrian Emile Lahoud is due to step down from the presidency by November 23, and government supporters see the vote as the opportunity to put one of their own in the post.

Hezbollah and its allies have vowed to block any candidate they don't approve of, and they can do so by boycotting the vote, preventing the necessary two-thirds quota.

If no candidate is agreed on by the time Lahoud steps down, Saniora and his Cabinet would automatically take on executive powers.

If that happens, opposition supporters have said Lahoud might appoint a second government, a step many fear would break up the country.

With Ghanem's death, Saniora supporters hold 68 of parliament's 128 seats, compared to the opposition's 59.

Lebanon's newly-elected president, Michel Aoun, on Thursday asked former Premier Saad Hariri to form a new government after he secured an overwhelming parliamentary majority to be named as the next prime minister.

Aoun's office made the announcement after two days of consultations with lawmakers over their choice of prime minister. The statement didn't say how many lawmakers supported Hariri for the post.

Aoun, a Christian leader and strong ally of the Shiite Hezbollah group, was elected by Parliament as president on Monday, ending a 29-month presidential vacuum.

His election was made possible after Hariri endorsed him for president based on an understanding that Aoun would then appoint him as prime minister.

According to Lebanon's sectarian-based power-sharing system, the president must be a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Muslim Sunni and the parliament speaker a Shiite Muslim.

The Aoun-Hariri deal is an unlikely partnership between rivals: Aoun, a long-time Syrian foe now allied with pro-Syrian forces, and Hariri, a vocal opponent of President Bashar Assad and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

Hariri is the son of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in a massive seaside bombing in 2005 in Beirut. Several Hezbollah members are being tried in absentia by a Netherlands-based UN-backed tribunal.

Hariri was a political novice thrown into politics when he took over his father's political mantle after he was killed.

He headed a 14-month national unity government from late 2009 until early 2011, which collapsed after Hezbollah and its allies resigned from the Cabinet in a dispute over upcoming indictments in Hariri's assassination.

AP TELEVISION

++16:9++

Beirut - 3 November 2016

1. Saad Hariri arriving at the presidential palace

TELE LIBAN

++4:3++

Beirut - 3 November 2016

++MUTE++

2. President of the Republic Michel Aoun (centre) meeting with parliament speaker Nabih Berri (left) and Saad Hariri (right)

3. Close of Saad Hariri's face

4. President of the Republic Michel Aoun (centre) meeting with parliament speaker Nabih Berri (left) and Saad Hariri (right)

AP TELEVISION

++16:9++

Beirut - 3 November 2016

4. Saad Hariri walking to the podium

5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Prime Minister-appointed:

"Now I look forward to begin the consultations for the formation of a national unity government, which surpasses all political divisions and it's based on the consensus of all political forces after what the president said."

6. Cameraman filming

7. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Prime Minister-appointed:

"This is a new era and I have hope in this positive moment which will end the suffering of our nation and our people. For the last two-years-and-a-half there was vacuum and paralysis, I will be forming a government quickly so that it can work on a new electoral law which will provide a just representation and also hold new parliamentary elections."

8. Saad Hariri leaving

9. Presidential palace exterior

10. Close of Lebanese flag

11. Presidential guard walking

SHOTLIST

1. Aircraft taxiing on runway

2. Wide of United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stepping down from aircraft

3. Tracking shot of Ban and resigned foreign minister Fawzi Salloukh walking, then shaking hands for photographers

4. Ban walking to microphones

5. SOUNDBITE: (English) Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General:

"The election of a new president should take place on time and in accordance with constitutional procedures. In this endeavour it is imperative that the parliament convenes in order to elect the new president. This president must be committed to TAIF reconciliation accord, the constitution and international legitimacy."

6. Cutaway of cameras

7. Ban leaving new conference

++NIGHT SHOTS++

8. Pan of Lebanese Parliament Speaker's residence, barriers and security at the entrance

9. Wide of meeting between Ban and Lebanese Parliament speaker Nabih Berri

10. Mid of Ban

11. Mid of Berri

12. Pull out from mid of delegates to wid of meeting

13. Cutaway of photographer

14. Ban and leader of parliamentary majority Saad Hariri shaking hands then walking into meeting room

15. Wide of meeting

16. Mid of Hariri

17. Mid of Ban

18. Various shots of meeting

19. Exterior of Lebanese Prime Minister's office building

20. Ban getting out of car, being greeted by officials as he goes up the steps

21. Wide of meeting between Ban and Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Saniora

22. Mid of Ban

23. Mid of Saniora

24. Wide of meeting

STORYLINE

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged Lebanon's deeply divided politicians to elect a new president with the "broadest possible acceptance" by the public, and to do it on schedule, as he tried to help break the deadlock over the crucial vote.

Ban launched the latest attempt by international officials to prod the country's feuding factions to agree on a candidate for the top post and avoid a dangerous power vacuum.

His visit comes a week before parliament is to convene for another try to elect a president.

Parliament is supposed to pick a new president before the term of current President Emile Lahoud ends on November 24.

But the Western-backed ruling coalition and the Hezbollah-led opposition have been unable to agree on a candidate, sparking Lebanon's most serious political crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war.

He met with Lebanese House Speaker Nabih Berri who is one of the opposition figures.

The pro-Syrian opposition has been preventing the anti-Syrian majority from pushing through a candidate by refusing to attend parliament sessions until a compromise is reached.

The coalition is eager to put one of its own in place to replace Lahoud, a close ally of Damascus.

Three parliament attempts to hold a vote have failed since September, and the legislature is to try again on November 21.

"The election of the new president should take place on time and in accordance with constitutional procedures," Ban said. "In this endeavor, it

is imperative that the parliament convenes in order to elect a new president."

After arriving in Beirut on Thursday, Ban met first with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, who is aligned with the opposition, and with legislator

Saad Hariri, leader of the anti-Syrian parliamentary majority.

He later met with Prime Minister Fuad Saniora, whose government has been locked for the past year in a fierce power struggle with the opposition led by the Hezbollah group, which is backed by Syria and Iran.

A government official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with government regulations, said Saniora and Ban discussed the presidential

election, Israel's reconnaissance flights over Lebanon and the need to speed up an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the 2005 assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Failure to elect the next president could result in a power vacuum and possibly, in the formation of two rival administrations.

Ban was also to meet Friday with Hezbollah officials and Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, the head of the influential Maronite Catholic Church.

Under Lebanon's political system, the president must be Maronite, the country's largest Christian sect.

The church fears a power vacuum could threaten the Maronites' hold on the post.

SHOTLIST

1. Wide pan of meeting

2. Various of meeting

3. Nohad al-Mashnouq, Future Bloc member of parliament, greeting people

3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Nohad al-Mashnouq, Future bloc member of parliament:

"I demand that Hezbollah ministers step down from the cabinet until the truth is revealed."

4. Audience listening

STORYLINE

A Lebanese lawmaker on Sunday demanded that Hezbollah ministers step down from the cabinet following an indictment of four members of the Shiite militant group over the 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

Future Movement member of parliament Nohad al-Mashnouq was speaking at a meeting in the capital Beirut.

But Hezbollah's leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah on Saturday vowed never to turn over the four, saying in a defiant speech that "even in 300 years" authorities will not be able to touch them.

The indictments were announced on Thursday.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon - the UN-backed court tasked with bringing to justice those involved in Hariri's assassination has handed Lebanon's state prosecutor indictments and Lebanon has 30 days to carry out the arrest warrants.

Nasrallah denounced the six-year investigation as a plot by Israel and the United States.

Hezbollah, which gets crucial support from Iran and Syria, has denied any role in the killing and accused the UN-backed tribunal of doing Israel's bidding.

The accusations that Hezbollah - the most powerful political and military force in Lebanon - had a role in the 2005 Beirut truck bombing that killed Rafik Hariri has the potential to plunge Lebanon into a new and violent crisis.

Hezbollah has amassed unprecedented political clout in the government this year, having toppled the previous administration in January when then-Prime Minister Saad Hariri - the slain prime minister's son - refused to renounce the tribunal investigating his father's death.

The new premier, Najib Mikati, was Hezbollah's pick for the post.

He issued a vague promise on Thursday that Lebanon would respect international resolutions as long as they did not threaten civil peace.

The ambiguous wording leaves ample room to brush aside the arrest warrants if street battles are looming.

The cabinet is packed with Hezbollah allies, so there is little enthusiasm within the current leadership to press forward with the case.

Even if Saad Hariri were still in power, however, it's unlikely he would be able to force Lebanese authorities to arrest the men - to do so, they would have to directly confront a well-armed militant group that wields serious power over the Lebanese state.

The bombing that killed Hariri and 22 other people on 14 February, 2005, was one of the most dramatic political assassinations in the Middle East.

A (b) billionaire businessman, Hariri was Lebanon's most prominent politician after the 15-year civil war ended in 1990.

In the six years since his death, the investigation has sharpened some of Lebanon's most intractable issues: the role of Hezbollah and its massive arsenal, and the country's dark history of sectarian divisions and violence.

Rafik Hariri was one of Lebanon's most powerful Sunni leaders; Hezbollah is a Shiite group.

RESTRICTION SUMMARY: AP CLIENTS ONLY

SHOTLIST:

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Beirut - 24 May 2018

1. Arrival of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the presidential palace

2. Wide of Lebanese President Michel Aoun (middle) meeting Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri (left) and Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri (right)

3. Mid of Aoun and Hariri

4. Mid of Berri, pull out to wide of meeting

5. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Saad Hariri, Lebanese Prime Minister-designate:

"The President Michel Aoun honoured me by designating me to form a new government according to the parliamentarian consultations that were held today. I thank the president and the members of parliament for their nomination today."

6. Camera cutaway

7. Hariri leaving

LEBANESE PRESIDENCY HANDOUT - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Beirut - 24 May 2018

++MUTE++

8. Wide of Lebanon's Future Movement parliamentary bloc meeting Aoun

9. Mid of Future Movement legislator Bahia Hariri

10. Various of legislators

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Beirut - 24 May 2018

11. Bahia Hariri heading to podium

12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Bahia Hariri, Lebanese legislator:

"We have nominated Saad Hariri as prime minister for the new government."

LEBANESE PRESIDENCY HANDOUT - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Beirut - 24 May 2018

++MUTE++

13. Aoun seated during meeting with the Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc

14. Mid of Gibran Bassil head of the bloc

15. Mid of legislators

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Beirut - 24 May 2018

16. Wide of media

17. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Gibran Bassil, Head of the Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc:

"The Strong Lebanon parliamentary bloc today nominated Saad Hariri as its candidate for the new government."

PRESIDENCY HANDOUT - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Beirut - 24 May 2018

++MUTE++

18. Wide of Hezbollah parliamentary bloc meeting Aoun

19. Mid of Aoun

20. Various of Hezbollah members of parliament

ASSOCIATED PRESS - AP CLIENTS ONLY

Beirut - 24 May 2018

21. Head of Hezbollah parliamentary bloc (called Loyalty to the Resistance) Mohammad Raad heading to podium

22. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Mohammad Raad, Head of Hezbollah parliamentary bloc:

"Loyalty to the Resistance, the Hezbollah parliamentary bloc, did not nominate anyone for the premiership and we have confirmed our readiness to take part in the next government."

23. Lebanese flag

STORYLINE:

Lebanon's president formally asked caretaker premier Saad Hariri on Thursday to form a new Cabinet after the vast majority of legislators named him as their choice for the position of prime minister.

Hariri's appointment comes amid a struggling economy, rising tensions in the Middle East and a new wave of sanctions against the militant Hezbollah group raising concerns that they might hamper the new government formation.

After a day of consultations between President Michel Aoun and 128 legislators, 111 named Hariri as their choice to form a new Cabinet while the rest, including Hezbollah's bloc and some of its allies, did not give a name.

Hariri's nomination comes after this month's parliamentary elections in which Hezbollah and its allies increased their presence in the legislature.

Hezbollah, which has 13 seats in the 128-member legislature, did not name its own candidate for the premiership as it has done in the past - signaling it will likely go along with Hariri's re-appointment despite tense relations between the Iran-allied Shiite group and the Western-backed Hariri.

A UN-backed tribunal has indicted five Hezbollah members in the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father and former premier Rafik Hariri. Hezbollah denies the charges.

Hariri will most likely work on forming a national unity Cabinet, similar to the one he's been heading since 2016.

A wave of sanctions by the United States and its Arab allies has targeted Hezbollah, which made gains in this month's balloting and which says it wants to play a bigger role in Lebanon's new government. Those demands could complicate Hariri's mission in the coming weeks.

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