DAMASCUS, November 9 (RIA Novosti) - The Lebanese prime minister, Saad Hariri, formed a new government on Monday with the militant group Hezbollah-led opposition, putting an end to months of political uncertainty in the country.
"Finally the national unity government has been formed," Hariri said, adding that he hoped the new cabinet would work in "accord and cooperation."
The new government has 30 ministers, 15 of them supporting the ruling coalition, 10 representing the opposition and five, including defense and interior ministers, having been appointed by the head of state.
As things are, neither the ruling coalition, nor the opposition has the right of veto.
The Hariri-led political bloc supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia won the June parliamentary election, but talks to form a cabinet in coalition with the opposition loyal to Syria and Iran lasted five months. The success was attributed to a recent thaw in Syrian-Saudi relations.
Observers say the formation of the cabinet including representatives from all leading political parties is an important step on the way to scale down interfaith differences and strengthen internal stability in the country.
