"Dealing with Syria as if it was still in Lebanon or as if its allies are a tool represents an insult to a large proportion of the Lebanese," Information Minister Mohsen Bilal told reporters.

"Reaching consensus in Lebanon is a joint Arab responsibility. Saudi Arabia plays a big role in Lebanon. It has allies who boast about their alliance with Saudi Arabia," Bilal said.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal said this week that Damascus should use its influence with its allies in the Lebanese opposition to pass an Arab League plan to fill a vacuum in the presidency and form a functioning government.

The exchange is the latest in a series of disagreements between the two countries relating to Lebanon ahead of an Arab summit in Damascus in March. Egypt, another U.S. Arab ally, has also criticised Syria over Lebanon.

Saudi Arabia backs Lebanon's pro-Western political majority headed by Saad al-Hariri. He is the son of former premier Rafik al-Hariri, who was assassinated in Beirut in 2005. Syria backs the Shi'ite movement Hezbollah, the main opposition party.

Syria and Saudi Arabia have historically had different interests in Lebanon but the two countries have agreed on an the Arab initiative, which called for electing Army commander Michel Suleiman as president.

Lebanon's divided politicians have accepted Suleiman in that post but disagree over how to share power once he is elected.

"Egypt and Saudi Arabia should convince their own friends in the Lebanese majority to accept a solution," Bilal said.

Relations between Damascus and Riyadh plummeted after the assassination of Hariri, who had Saudi nationality and made his fortune in Saudi Arabia. A United Nations investigation implicated Lebanese and Syrian security officials in the killing. Damascus denied involvement.

The assassination triggered pressure that forced Syria to withdraw its forces from Lebanon after a 29-year presence. Although Syrian forces pulled out, Damascus acknowledges it still has influence in Lebanon. -Reuters