Head of a UN-backed tribunal probing the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri met Lebanese officials on Wednesday.

The head of a UN-backed tribunal probing the murder of ex-premier Rafiq Hariri met Lebanese officials on Wednesday, as pressure intensifies on the government to honor its commitments to the court.

President David Baragwanath, who assumed his role as head of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon after his predecessor Antonio Cassese died of cancer last month, held talks with President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour.

Miqati met with Baragwanath at the Grand Serail, reiterating Lebanon’s respect for international resolutions, including 1757. He hoped that the STL would steer clear of politics

International pressure is mounting on Miqati to uphold his country's duties to the tribunal, which include meeting 49 percent of the STL's financing -- $35 million (25.2 million euros) this year.

Miqati, whose cabinet has yet to come up with the money, said he would continue to work towards "making the right decision regarding funding within the legal deadline."

Baragwanath has so far made no public statements during his week-long visit to Lebanon which ends on Friday.

But a government official said he had made clear in meetings in Beirut that it was in the interest of Miqati's government to contribute its share to the court or face "being dragged before the UN Security Council."

The STL president will visit the area where Hariri was killed along with 21 others in a massive blast at the St. George area on Beirut’s seafront, Naharnet Website reported.

He will also inspect the route that Hariri’s convoy took from parliament all the way to the area where the explosion went off, same sources added.