Lebanon Forms a New Government

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Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati manages to form a new government after a delay of nearly five months. He vows to begin work soon. Some Lebanese were surprised, thinking they would never have a government.

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati after a five month delay, announced on Monday new government dominated by allies of Iranian-backed Hezbollah.

This is likely to cause alarm among Western powers.

Mikati was appointed to form a government after Hezbollah and its allies toppled Western-backed former premier Saad al-Hariri's coalition in January.

[...]

Political wrangling had held up the formation of the cabinet, including disagreements over sensitive posts.

Mohammed Safadi, the former economy minister, was named finance minister and will try to improve Lebanon's growth outlook which stands at about 2.5 percent this year, driven down by the political stalemate.

A main aim of the government will be to agree on a unified stand to face indictments by the tribunal expected to implicate members of Hezbollah in the 2005 killing of Hariri.

Mikati, who says he is politically neutral, said the Lebanese government would seek to maintain positive ties with all Arab countries.

Some Lebanese citizens on the streets of Beirut were surprised with the announcement despite a five month delay.

[Firas al-Debbagh, Lebanon Citizen]:
"Honestly, I was surprised like everyone else because we expected not to have a government at all and to have constant obstacles."

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, telephoned Mikati to congratulate him.

Syria is a strong ally of Hezbollah, the main player in the political coalition which helped bring Mikati to power in January.