Middle East News

Lebanon's president names Hariri as premier (1st Lead)

Jun 27, 2009, 12:32 GMT

Beirut - Saad Hariri was designated Saturday Lebanon's new prime minister after his anti-Syrian coalition won the majority in parliament earlier this month. Hariri was nominated Saturday by 86 of the 128-member parliament, The opposition led by Shiite militant group Hezbollah abstained in the vote, but said if Hariri was designated 'we will work with him.' Hariri is to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Fouad Seniora, a member of Hariri's Future Current movement. Hariri's coalition won 71 seats in this month's parliamentary election against 57 won by a coalition led by Hezbollah, which is supported by Syria and Iran. Hezbollah and their allies are insisting that Hariri form a national unity government. But Hariri's majority bloc insists it will only accept a unity government if the Hezbollah alliance does not get veto power, as it did in the outgoing cabinet. Hariri, 39, is the son and political heir of the late premier Rafik Hariri, who was assassinated in a massive 2005 bombing that was widely blamed on Syria, a charge Damascus still denies.

Middle East News

Lebanon's president names Hariri as premier (1st Lead)

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