The United Nations Security Council unequivocally condemned Tuesday's assassination of Lebanon's anti-Syrian Industry Minister Pierre Gemayel and approved a UN-Lebanese agreement that would create a tribunal to prosecute the suspected killers of another Lebanese politician - former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

A statement read by the council president condemned "any attempt to destabilize Lebanon through political assassination or other terrorist acts" and expressed grave concern at the possible impact of the killing of Christian politician Pierre Gemayel on efforts "to solidify democracy" in the country.

The council called Gemayel "a patriot who was a symbol of freedom and of the political independence of Lebanon."

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United States President George W. Bush also strongly condemned the Gemayel's assassination on Tuesday and called for a full investigation into his death.

Speaking to U.S. troops stationed in Hawaii, he said the investigation should "identify those people and those forces behind the killing."

"We support the Siniora government and its democracy, and we support the Lebanese people's desire to live in peace," Bush said after having breakfast with U.S. troops. "And we support their efforts to defend their democracy against attempts by Syria, Iran and allies to foment instability and violence in that important country."

The U.S. State Department earlier denounced the assassination as an act of terrorism, and said it viewed the murder as an act of intimidation against Prime Minister Siniora's ruling coalition in Lebanon.

"We are shocked by this assassination," Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told reporters. "We believe it is the responsibility of all countries to support the Siniora government."

U.S. Ambassador John Bolton said the assassination showed the need for quick agreement on creation of an international court for Lebanon over the string of political assassinations in recent years.

Bolton also hinted at Syrian involvement in the assassination of Gemayel, in which gunmen opened fire on his convoy near Beirut. Syria, however, condemned the assassination and called it a 'despicable crime.'

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also condemned the assassination and called for efforts to stabilize Lebanon's fragile democracy.

Blair said the killing of Pierre Gemayel was "completely without any
justification at all."

"We condemn this murder utterly," he said. "We need to do everything we can at this moment to protect democracy in Lebanon and the premiership of Prime Minister Siniora," Blair told reporters during a news conference with Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

The European Union also condemned the slaying said those responsible must be brought to justice.

"Those responsible for this cowardly assassination ... must be found and
judged," EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said.

"Once again, Lebanon has paid a heavy price for its determination to live in peace and independence," Solana said in a French-language statement.

"In my name, and that of the European Union, I pay homage to the courage and determination of all those who are struggling for an independent, sovereign and united Lebanon," he added.

France's UN Ambassador Jean-Marc de La Sabliere said the assassination was an attempt to destabilize Lebanon and warned: "There will be no peace without justice in Lebanon."

Syria: Gemayal murder a 'despicable crime'
Syria condemned the murder of the anti-Syrian Christian politician, calling the assassination a "despicable crime."

The official news agency Sana said in a statement, "This is a crime aimed at destabilizing Lebanon... Syria is careful about preserving Lebanon's security, unity and civil peace."

SANA also quoted an anonymous official as saying, "This despicable crime aims to destroy stability and peace in Lebanon."

The pro-Syrian Hezbollah party in Lebanon also came out against the murder. Hezbollah member Ahmed Melli told Al-Jazeera television, "We strongly condemn and denounce this killing. It was carried out by those forces who want to harm the future of Lebanon."

Saad Hariri, leader of the Lebanese anti-Syrian parliamentary majority and son of slain former prime minister Rafik Hariri, earlier Tuesday accused Syria of being responsible for the assassination.

Hariri broke off a televised news conference after hearing that Gemayel had been shot. "This is the act of a coward regime," he said.

"The cedar revolution is under attack," he said. "Today one of our main believers in a free democratic Lebanon has been killed. We believe the hand of Syria is all over [this].

"The people of Lebanon will not give up on the international tribunal. This will make them even more determined. We will bring justice to those who killed Pierre Gemayel."

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak urged Lebanese to seek dialogue and put aside differences "in order not to lose Lebanon," in the wake of Gemayal's murder.

"We are for any initiative that leads to peace in Lebanon," Mubarak said in Libya, where he is attending a conference, when asked by reporters about the assassination.

"We call on the Lebanese parties to engage in dialogue for the interest of Lebanon. There should not be any differences, in order not to lose Lebanon."

Jordanian King Abdullah called on Lebanese to mainatin unity in the wake of the assassination. "We strongly condemn this ugly crime. This is a cowardly act that targets the security and stability of Lebanon," he said.

"The Lebanese have to unify their ranks at this phase and not allow the preachers of death, disunity and destruction to succeed in creating a split in the cohesion of the Lebanese people," he added.

Livni: Killing illustrates battle between moderates and extremists
Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her British counterpart Margaret Beckett, speaking at a joint press conference in London as the news broke of Gemayel's assassination, both condemned the murder.

"The news from Lebanon is another example of the kind of neighborhood we are living in," Livni said. She said that the killing illustrated the ongoing battle "between moderates and extemists" in the region.

Speaking on behalf of Britain, Beckett said, "we are dismayed... there are enough problems in Lebanon already."

"This is absolutely against the interest of every single person in the region, and deeply damaging," Beckett said.

Livni, who said it was "too early to say something concrete" about the shooting, added that the news from Lebanon was an "example for something we are all facing."

It was not "new or top secret" that Syria was playing a "negative role" in Lebanon, said the Israeli minister hinting at the possible Syrian involvement in the killing.

Beckett said she hoped the killing would be a "one-off" because what Lebanon needed was re-building and "not death and destruction."