Prime Minster Siniora has earlier offered to delay the meeting if the Hezbollah and Amal ministers agree to return to the government but they refused.

The cabinet met at 6 PM local time. The meeting was initially scheduled at 5: PM but the ministers gave up on Hezbollah and Amal after waiting one extra hour for them.

Speaker Nabih Berri should now call for a parliament meeting to discuss and ratify the cabinet approval. PSP leader Walid Jumblatt challenged Berri yesterday when he said " Will Speaker Berri call for a special parliament session to ratify the UN agreement for the International tribunal"?.

The president has also to sign the cabinet approval, but judging from his letter today to the UN's Kofi Annan in which he accused the Siniora cabinet of being illegitimate, he obviously will veto it. However the parliament can override the president.

MP Ibrahim Kanaan, a member of General Aoun's Tayyar block, confirmed today in an article published by LBC that contrary the accusations their group intends to vote for the Hariri tribunal. If this is true then the parliament will be able to muster 2/3 majority to override the president 's veto.

Syria has hinted yesterday at a UN meeting that it will not cooperate with the International tribunal and insisted that it should be delayed till after the UN investigation is completed. It follows therefore that President Lahoud will not cooperate since he always acts on orders from Syria.

Lahoud's term was extended when the Syrian regime forced the parliament to amend the constitution, which is why the March 14 th of alliance of the Cedar Revolution considers him illegitimate.

By: Sami Y Haddad, Ya Libnan Volunteer

Sources: Ya Libnan, LBC