Beirut -- The U.N. Security Council reiterated its strong support for Lebanon's democratically elected government and condemned any attempts to destabilize the country.

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The council issued the presidential statement late Tuesday as Arab League chief Amr Moussa began talks with Lebanese politicians in an attempt to defuse rising political and sectarian tensions that are threatening to tear the country apart.

"The Security Council calls upon all Lebanese political parties to show responsibility with a view to preventing, through dialogue, further deterioration of the situation in Lebanon," the statement said.

Lebanon's latest political crisis began after Prime Minister Fouad Siniora rejected demands by Hezbollah, the militant group that fought Israel in a 34-day war this summer, for a national unity government that would give the guerrilla group and its allies veto power in the Cabinet.

In response, 5 pro-Hezbollah ministers ( and another 1 minister that represents pro- Syrian president Lahoud) resigned from the Cabinet and the militant group has staged demonstrations in downtown Beirut since Dec. 1 to pressure the prime minister into quitting.

A key issue is the establishment of a U.N.-backed tribunal to prosecute those charged in the February 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, which killed 22 others. Siniora's Cabinet reiterated its approval of the tribunal late Tuesday, but final approval must be given by Parliament whose speaker, Nabih Berri, contends the Cabinet's agreement is illegal because there were no Shiite ministers.

"The Security Council reiterates its full support for the legitimate and democratically elected government of Lebanon, calls for full respect for the democratic institutions of the country, in conformity with the constitution, and condemns any effort to destabilize Lebanon," the statement said.

The council also called for implementation of all U.N. resolutions, including one demanding the disarmament of all militias inside Lebanon - which would include Hezbollah's armed fighters.

It welcomed the maintenance of the ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah since Aug. 14 and the deployment of the Lebanese army in the south for the first time in three decades, along with more than 10,000 U.N. peacekeepers.

While expressing deep concern at Israel's continuing violations of Lebanon's airspace, the council appealed to all parties to respect the ceasefire and the U.N.-drawn boundary between Israel and Lebanon, and "to refrain from any act of provocation."

AP, Ya Libnan