Syria dismisses 'new Hariri plot'

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Syria has dismissed claims by Lebanon's parliamentary majority leader, Saad Hariri, that it is plotting to murder him and Prime Minister Fouad Siniora.

An unnamed spokesman quoted by Syria's official news agency called Mr Hariri's accusation "false and fabricated" and challenged him to present his evidence.

Mr Hariri has said the evidence is reliable but has not given any details. His anti-Syrian movement accuses Damascus of a killing spree starting with Rafik Hariri's death in 2005.

On Tuesday, Mr Hariri was asked by reporters in Cairo about an alleged plot involving Syrian military intelligence chief Asef Shawkat.

He refused to deny the accusation, saying: "We have information about this, and we're following up on it."

The AFP news agency reported that an official in Mr Siniora's office knew of the reported plot and it was being investigated.

Last month, six people were killed in a Beirut car bombing including anti-Syrian MP Antoine Ghanem.

Tension is high in Lebanon ahead of a deadline for parliament to choose a new president to replace pro-Syrian incumbent Emil Lahhoud.

Many members of the ruling coalition are in hiding or have taken refuge abroad amid the threat of further assassinations.

Syria has brushed off all past allegations of involvement in the assassinations and deadly bombings which have shaken Lebanon in the last two-and-a-half years.