Lebanese President Emile Lahoud has rejected the opposition's conditions on forming a new government.

The Lebanese opposition has appointed two parliamentary deputies to state their terms during consultations with the president.

These demands include a full probe into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri, dismissing officials in the security department and intelligence service and overseeing the complete withdrawal of Syrian troops.

Lahoud has refused these conditions, saying that the consultation was confined to deciding prime ministerial candidates.

Some 70 deputies of the 128-seat parliament have backed the outgoing Prime Minister Omar Karami to retain his post.