Lebanon’s Hariri forms unity government
Updated: Monday, November 09, 2009
18:40GMT—1:40PM/EST
Washington, 9 November (WashingtonTV)—Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri on Monday formed a national unity government, after more than four months of negotiations with his rivals, led by Hezbollah.
The 30-member cabinet was made public in a decree signed by Hariri and President Michel Suleiman, reports AFP.
Lebanon has been without a functioning government since Hariri’s US- and Saudi-backed alliance won a parliamentary election in June.
The cabinet includes 15 ministers from Hariri’s bloc and 10 from the opposition, including two Hezbollah ministers. The remaining five ministers, including the key interior and defense portfolios, were nominated by Suleiman, reports Reuters.
The delay in forming a government was due in part to bickering between the two sides on the distribution of portfolios and the choice of ministers, reports AFP.
Sources: Agence France-Presse, Reuters
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