Lebanese parliament's Secretary- General Adnan Daher has refused to receive a petition calling for ratifying a draft law on forming an international tribunal to try suspects in ex-premier Rafik Hariri's assassination, local Naharnet reported on Friday.

Adnan Daher made the refusal after he received the petition on Thursday, which, signed by 70 lawmakers of the 128-member legislation, calls on Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri to summon the house to vote on the plan.

The document was later mailed to Berri, a close ally of the opposition Shiite movement Hezbollah, via Liban Post, an express mail service in the country, according to the report.

Daher was quoted as saying that he rejected the plan "because the draft law was not submitted to parliament."

The draft law was published by the official gazette on Dec. 14, following the refusal of President Emile Lahoud to sign it in 15 days in accordance with the nation's constitution.

Lahoud refused to sign the document because it was referred to him by what he regards as a non-constitutional government after six pro-Syrian ministers resigned last month from the cabinet of premier Fouad Seniora that enjoys the backing of a parliamentary majority.

Lebanon's former premier Rafik Hariri was killed in a massive bomb blast in Beirut in February 2005. A UN probe has implicated Syrian officials' involvement in the killing though Damascus has denied its role.

Source: Xinhua