UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 15 (Xinhuanet) -- The UN Security Council on Tuesday condemned the "terrorist" murdering of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafiq Hariri.

    In a statement, the council condemned the terrorist bombing in Beirut Monday that killed Hariri and others, and expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the people and Lebanese government and to the victims and their families.

    It called on the Lebanese government to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous terrorist act, noting the Lebanise government's commitments in this regard.

    The council reaffirmed its previous calls upon all parties concerned to cooperate fully and urgently with the Security Council to implement all relevant resolutions last year calling for the withdrawal of all Syrian troops from Lebanon.

    Syria is the main powerbroker in its smaller neighbor, with more than 10,000 troops on the ground.

    "The council calls on the Lebanese government to bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of this heinous terrorist act," it said.

    "The Security Council is concerned by the potential for further destabilization of Lebanon and expresses hope that the Lebanese people will be able to emerge from this terrible event united," it noted.

    All the Lebanese people should "use peaceful means in support of their long-standing national aspiration to full sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity," it added.

    The council statement also insisted that Hariri's killing should not threaten planned Lebanese elections in May.

    "Such a terrorist act should not jeopardize the holding of these elections in transparent, free and democratic conditions," it said.

    The council also asked UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to follow closely the situation in Lebanon and to report on the circumstances, causes and consequences of this terrorist act, something the UN chief said earlier the United Nations was prepared to do. Enditem