UNITED NATIONS - Nearly two years to the day since the assassination of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, a former President of Lebanon on Thursday called on the international community to deliver answers to the politician's death.

Speaking at a news conference at the United Nations, Amin Gemayel, whose own son was assassinated in November 2006, said that "the Lebanese are duty-bound to know what has happened" with all assassinations.

"This will serve the interests of Lebanon and it would also serve the interests of peace and stability in the entire Middle East region," Gemayel added.

Hariri was killed along with 22 others in a massive 14 February 2005 bomb attack widely blamed on Syrian officials and their Lebanese allies.

On Tuesday, the UN signed an agreement with Lebanon setting up a Special Tribunal to prosecute the suspected killers of the former Lebanese Prime Minister.

Gemayel also called for an end to "non-official groups" to put down their arms.

"Only the Lebanese army and the official security Lebanese forces should carry arms in Lebanon," he said.

Gemayel's son, Pierre Gemayel who was Lebanon's industry minister, was assassinated in November 2006.

Gemayel said in an interview broadcast on Sunday that he did not know who was responsible for the killing of his son.

But he accused Syria of plotting a coup d'etat against the government of Prime Minister Fuad Saniora.

On Thursday, Gemayel also met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. Earlier in the day he met US President George W Bush.

White House press secretary Tony Snow said the US would demonstrate a commitment to a sovereign and democratic Lebanon and expressed sympathy at the death of Gemayel's son. -with agencies