Lebanon

New president Sleiman appoints Siniora to head unity government

Article published on the 2008-05-28 Latest update 2008-05-29 18:14 TU

Fouad Siniora
(Photo: Reuters)

Newly-elected Lebanese President Michel Sleiman appointed outgoing Prime Minister Fouad Siniora Wednesday to head a national unity government after 68 out of 127 MPs gave the green light to the move. Siniora is slated to begin talks on Thursday with the different parties in order to create a 30-member cabinet.

The formation of a coalition government was the key to breaking the 18-month impasse that escalated into heavy fighting and threatened to break out into a full-scale civil war.

The deal gives 16 seats in the new cabinet to the majority coalition led by Saad Hariri's Future Movement party, eleven seats to the opposition and the president will appoint three people.

In addition, the Hezbollah-led minority, which fought a long campaign against the outgoing govenrment, will have veto power over key decisions.

Some opposition leaders were not happy with Siniora's appointment.

"His nomination is a recipe for conflict rather than reconciliation," Christian leader Michel Aoun said.

He added however that that the opposition would not stand in the way of forming a new government.