Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's cabinet assumed the powers of head of state on Saturday after the term of pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud ended with no agreement on his successor.

The opposition, backed by Syria and led by Hezbollah, disputes the legitimacy of the anti-Syrian government and says it has no right to assume the powers of president.

"The government will work so that its decisions are studied and non-provocative and focus on political harmony," Siniora told religious leaders, according to his office.

Current crisis

Siniora urged the leaders to work "for calm, because tension and escalation will not help the country but will instead intensify the current crisis. The goal is the election of a new president."

Parliament is due to meet on Friday in another attempt at electing the president. The vote has already been postponed five times because the main leaders have been unable to agree.

Although there has been no deal on Lahoud's successor, the rivals have not carried out threats of unilateral action, instead containing the worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war. -Reuters