Lebanon: Sa'ad Hariri renamed as PM-designate

[Chris]

Lebanon: Sa'ad Hariri renamed as PM-designate
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
BEIRUT

Lebanon's president has given the country's parliament majority leader a second chance to form the government, after the Hizbullah-led bloc stymied Saad Hariri's previous effort. Less than a week after Hariri resigned, Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Wednesday reappointed him as prime minister-designate, but it's unclear if the move can pull Lebanon out of a three-month deadlock. Suleiman made the appointment after two-day consultations with lawmakers showed most of them still wanted Hariri for premier.

"The president summoned Saad Hariri and asked him to form the government," said a terse statement issued by Suleiman's office. A total of 73 lawmakers of the 128-member legislature voiced support for Hariri as prime minister, a drop from the 86 votes he got in June. He lost the support of parliament speaker Nabih Berri's 13-seat bloc, an ally of Hizbullah.

more.............Suleiman renames Hariri as Lebanon's PM-designate | Middle East | Jerusalem Post

[Chris]

Lebanon president renames Hariri as PM-designate
By The Associated Press

Lebanon's president on Wednesday gave the leader of the Western-backed parliament majority a second chance to form the government after Hezbollah and its allies stymied his previous effort. President Michel Suleiman reappointed Saad Hariri as prime minister-designate, but it's unclear what has changed that would allow him to succeed now after failing to break the deadlock over the past three months. Suleiman made the appointment after the two days of consultations with lawmakers showed most of them still wanted Hariri for premier. Hariri's pro-Western coalition defeated a Hezbollah-led alliance in the June parliamentary elections but failed to secure enough seats to rule alone.

more.............Lebanon president renames Hariri as PM-designate - Haaretz - Israel News