Suleiman appoints Hezbollah’s Mikati as PM designate

Lebanese President Michel Suleiman appointed Hezbollah’s candidate Najib Mikati as the Prime Minster designate to head the new government.

Mikati received the backing of 68 lawmakers, a majority in the 128-seat assembly, to 60 for caretaker premier Saad Hariri.

The Presidential palace announced that Suleiman has invited Mikati to Baabda and asked him to form the new government. (more…)

Berri: Mikati to form National Salvation, not Unity government

Sources close to Speaker Nabih Berri said that Amal Movement and Hezbollah held urgent contacts and agreed to leave things to the Army and not to confront supporters of the Future Movement.

Berri reportedly questioned all the fuss over nominating former PM Najib Mikati (more…)

Hezbollah chooses Lebanon’s next PM

A prime minister chosen by Hezbollah and its allies won enough support on Monday to form Lebanon’s government, unleashing angry protests,

Hariri: Mikati is not a consensus candidate

Caretaker PM Saad Hariri decried the myth that former PM Najib Mikati is a consensus candidate. He said on Monday that “ all the talk of a compromise candidate is an attempt to throw dust in the eyes…. there is no such thing as consensus candidate ….. there is a candidate named Hariri, another candidate that is backed by March 8 and the choice in this area is very clear and unambiguous”. (more…)

Akkar syndicates call for strike in support of Hariri, STL

National News Agency (NNA) reported on Monday that The educational, social and syndicate bodies in the Akkar of north Lebanon issued a statement calling for a general strike in the area on Tuesday,

The statement called for protests in the Abdeh Square at the southern entrance of the Akkar district at 10 a.m. on Tuesday (more…)

Lebanese forces accuse NBN TV of spreading lies, rumors

Lebanese Forces’ press office released a statement denying rumors about the presence of ” Lebanese Forces ” gunmen amongst the protesters during the sit-in on Monday. (more…)

Lebanon consultations Day one: Mikati 59 , Hariri 49 votes

The results of the first day of consultations over the selection of of the new prime minister who will lead Lebanon next government are in: 59 MPs voted for Mikati while 49 only voted for Hariri , sparked a public outcry. (more…)

US warns Lebanon over aid if Hezbollah controls government

The Obama administration on Monday warned Lebanon’s political leaders that continuing U.S. support for their country will be difficult if the militant Hezbollah movement takes a dominant role in government. (more…)

Protests across Lebanon against Hezbollah’s coup, in pictures

Protests broke out across Lebanon on Monday after Hezbollah appears to have engineered what was branded as a ” coup” to control the next Lebanese government .

Future: Protests, spontaneous, no weapons involved

Lebanon’s Future Movement which is headed by caretaker PM Saad Hariri issued a statement denying that its party members carried weapons during the demonstrations across the country on Monday, adding that the protests were not organized by the party. (more…)