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| Hariri named as Lebanon's new PM | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman has named Saad Hariri as the country's new prime minister, following parliamentary election earlier this month. | Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman has named Saad Hariri as the country's new prime minister, following parliamentary election earlier this month. |
| Mr Hariri's pro-Western alliance won 71 out of 128 seats in the vote, with the Hezbollah-led bloc taking the rest. | Mr Hariri's pro-Western alliance won 71 out of 128 seats in the vote, with the Hezbollah-led bloc taking the rest. |
| His choice as leader was confirmed when 86 MPs backed his nomination. | His choice as leader was confirmed when 86 MPs backed his nomination. |
| Mr Hariri, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, must now form a cabinet from the country's polarised political factions. | Mr Hariri, the son of assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, must now form a cabinet from the country's polarised political factions. |
| The 39-year-old said he would seek to form a national unity government. | |
| "In line with our commitment during the election campaign in favour of a national unity government in which the main parliamentary blocs are represented... we will begin consultations with all parliamentary blocs," he said. | |
| Analysts have said any unity government will almost certainly include members of the militant movement Hezbollah or its supporters. | |
| Once he has formed a cabinet, Mr Hariri will take over from his ally Fuad Siniora, who has held the post since 2005. | |
| The turnout for the 7 June poll was 54% - the highest percentage among Lebanon's three million voters since the 1975-91 civil war. | The turnout for the 7 June poll was 54% - the highest percentage among Lebanon's three million voters since the 1975-91 civil war. |
| The campaign was marred by mud-slinging and accusations that large numbers of expatriate Lebanese were flown home for free to cast votes. | The campaign was marred by mud-slinging and accusations that large numbers of expatriate Lebanese were flown home for free to cast votes. |
| But international observers said they were satisfied the poll was free and fair. | But international observers said they were satisfied the poll was free and fair. |
| After years of Lebanon's domination by Syria, the pro-Western bloc swept to power in 2005 following the assassination of Rafik Hariri in a car bombing in Beirut. | After years of Lebanon's domination by Syria, the pro-Western bloc swept to power in 2005 following the assassination of Rafik Hariri in a car bombing in Beirut. |
| Popular discontent after the bomb attack forced Syria to withdraw its troops amid accusations of its involvement in the killing. The government in Damascus has strongly denied the claims. | Popular discontent after the bomb attack forced Syria to withdraw its troops amid accusations of its involvement in the killing. The government in Damascus has strongly denied the claims. |