UN lawyer meets Lebanon officials on Hariri court

Michel, who arrived in Beirut on Thursday, said he consulted the officials on ways the world body could help in setting up a court "with an international character" as requested by the Lebanese government last month.

"My presence here is to carry out these consultations... which we hope would be fruitful," Michel told reporters.

No one has yet been indicted in the killing of Rafik al-Hariri in a truck bomb in Beirut in February but a U.N. investigation has already implicated senior Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies in the murder.

Lebanon has also detained a number of individuals identified as suspects. Syria has repeatedly denied any role in the killing which stirred anti-Syrian protests in Lebanon and set in train events that brought withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.

The lawyer held separate talks with President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the ministers of foreign affairs and justice.

A statement from the presidential palace said Lahoud expressed during the talks "his hope that a formula for the court would be reached quickly."

"The Lebanese are unanimous on the necessity to reach to the whole truth (of who killed Hariri), though their views sometimes differ on the shape of the judicial body that should handle the trial," it quoted Lahoud as saying.

The 15-nation council, in a resolution adopted last month, authorized U.N. staff to help Beirut determine the nature and scope of assistance.

Michel is also looking at whether the U.N. Hariri inquiry should be expanded to probe a wave of deadly bombings in Beirut since Hariri's death.

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