UN urges Lebanon to hasten formation of new government

Mar 29, 2011, 17:33 GMT

New York - The United Nations renewed Tuesday a call for Lebanon to form a new government to replace the one headed by premier Saad Hariri, who resigned in mid-January after the majority Hezbollah party withdrew from the coalition government.

Michael Williams, the UN special envoy for Lebanon, briefed the Security Council in New York of the political situation in that country amid mounting popular unrest in the region, including in neighbouring Syria.

'The process of forming a new government has been slow and I hope it's not any longer,' Williams said.

He said Beirut has been without a government for more than two months since Hezbollah-backed Najib Mikati was designated prime minister and urged to form a new government.

Hezbollah withdrew from Hariri's coalition government after denouncing his pro-Western policies and his backing of the prosecution of the murder of his father, former prime minister Rafik Hariri, in 2005.

Williams said Syrian President Bashir Assad had urged Mikati to complete the new government more than 10 days ago, but that call may be affected by recent developments in Syria with demonstrations calling for democratic reform in Damascus.

'Events in Syria and the escalation there could have a negative impact' on Lebanon, Williams said.

Williams met with the 15-nation council to discuss progress in implementing a ceasefire resolution that ended the Hezbollah-Israel conflict in southern Lebanon in 2006. He said progress had been made despite Israel's 'almost daily violations' of Lebanese territory and airspace.

He urged Israel to halt fly overs and withdraw troops from some areas in southern Lebanon.

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