Thousands of supporters of murdered former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri gathered in downtown Beirut Friday night, denouncing Syria and demanding that Lebanese President Emile Lahoud step down.

Some 2,000 Hariri supporters, holding portraits of the slain politician, called for Lahoud, a Maronite Christian, to quit for his involvement in Hariri's assassination.

Many others also waved Lebanese and party flags, shouting, "We want to uproot Syria!"

The rally came after the UN said in a report on Thursday evening that Lahoud had received a phone call from a suspect just minutes before the bomb blast on February 14 that killed Hariri and 20 other people.

However, Lahoud denied his involvement on Friday, describing the phone call claim as "without any foundation."

"These allegations are aimed at tarnishing the presidency," a statement issued by Lahoud's office said, adding that "President Lahoud will continue to fulfill his duties in line with the constitution."

The UN report also linked Syria with the murder of Hariri and called on the Syrian authorities to cooperate with investigators.

"There is converging evidence pointing at both Lebanese and Syrian involvement in this terrorist act," said the report.

However, Syrian Information Minister Mehdi Dakhlullah on Friday described remarks in the UN report as "100 percent politically biased."

In an interview with the Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV network, Dakhlullah said, "It is a political statement against Syria based on allegations by witnesses known for their hostility to Syria."

"The (UN) report is far from the truth," he said. "It was not professional and will not arrive at the truth but will be part of a deception and great tension in this region."

Hariri was killed in a car bomb blast in Beirut on February 14. Many Lebanese have blamed Syria and the Lebanese authorities under President Lahoud for the murder, but both Damascus and its Lebanese allies have denied any role.

The killing sparked massive anti-Syrian protests and led to Syrian troops' withdrawal from neighboring Lebanon in April after 39 years of military presence.

German prosecutor Mehlis was appointed in May by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to lead an independent inquiry team to carry out intensive investigations in both Lebanon and Syria.

Last month, Mehlis named the heads of Lebanese intelligence and security agencies as suspects in the case of Hariri's assassination.

Mehlis will brief the 15-nation UN Security Council on the investigation next Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency October 22, 2005)