Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri has submitted his resignation to President Emile Lahoud, paving the way for a cabinet reshuffle.

Hariri was confirmed on Wednesday that he would not head the next government due to internal political differences.

The 59-yeas-old has been Lebanese Prime Minister for much of the past 12 years, and is known as a determined opponent to Syria's interference in Lebanon's affairs.

Earlier, the UN Security Council agreed on a presidential statement unanimously, urging Syria to withdraw its remaining 14,000 troops from Lebanon.

(CRI October 21, 2004)