Global Arab Network | Hariri renominated to try forming Lebanon govt again

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Hariri renominated to try forming Lebanon govt again

Global Arab Network - - Adam Turner

Wednesday, 16 September 2009 13:30

Lebanon's parliament has nominated Saad al-Hariri to to try forming a government for a second time, after his first attempt failed last week.

Hariri was first designated prime minister in June, but stepped down last week, blaming rival factions including the Iran- and Syria-backed Hezbollah for thwarting his attempts at forging a unity government.

President Michel Suleiman is to officially designate al-Hariri to the post of prime minister on Wednesday as a majority of the country's 128 lawmakers nominated him to try again.

The president is obliged to designate the figure with the most support among MPs.

In an unofficial count, 73 MPs nominated al-Hariri while 55 did not name anyone.

Al-Hariri, Beirut's most prominent Sunni politician, was initially nominated prime minister after the June elections, but stepped down after more than 10 weeks trying to forge a unity government including Hezbollah and its allies.

Rival political factions have traded accusations of blame since the failure of the talks.

But there has been no sign of compromise over the differences that derailed al-Hariri's first attempt, chief among them his refusal to accept the conditions of Christian politician Michel Aoun, an ally of the Shia group Hezbollah.

Amal, led by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, nominated Hariri for the post in June. Its refusal to do so again is seen as a sign of deepening political divide between Hariri and rivals whose divisions spilled into armed conflict last year.

The Shi'ite groups and their allies have said the new prime minister must seek to form a unity government including all the main factions and abide by a seat-sharing arrangement splitting cabinet portfolios between Hariri's alliance, Hezbollah and its allies and a third bloc picked by the president.

Likewise, MPs belonging to Aoun's bloc and Hezbollah did not nominate anyone.

Politicians say the deadlock reflects a relapse in ties between Saudi Arabia and Syria, states with great influence in Lebanon and whose rivalries have fuelled political instability and violence in the country over the past four years.

Rapprochement between Damascus and Riyadh this year has helped Lebanon enjoy its longest spell of political stability since the 2005 assassination of former prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri, Saad's father.

However, the postponement of a visit Saudi's King Abdullah was due to make to Damascus has signalled a freeze in the improvement.

Many Lebanese fear that could be reflected in a protracted political standoff over the new government. (Reuters, AFP)

Global Arab Network

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