Saad Hariri has been named the new prime minister of Lebanon, taking
over a post once held by his father, Rafiq Hariri, who was assassinated
in 2005.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman appointed Mr. Hariri on Saturday, after a majority of lawmakers had nominated him.
Speaking at the presidential palace, Mr. Hariri pledged to work to mend divisions between Lebanon's rival political factions and to form a harmonious unity government.
The 39-year-old Saad Hariri heads a pro-Western party that won elections earlier this month. A coalition led by Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and Syria, has the second largest number of seats in Lebanon's 128-seat assembly.
Mr. Hariri and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah have pledged to cooperate in forming a unity government. But Mr. Hariri says he will not allow the Hezbollah alliance to keep the veto power it has benefited from in the outgoing cabinet.
Thursday, Lebanese lawmakers re-elected pro-Hezbollah lawmaker Nabih Berri as parliamentary speaker. He has held the the position since 1992.
In Lebanon's complex power-sharing system, the prime minister must always be a Sunni Muslim, while the speaker of parliament is a Shi'ite and the president a Maronite Christian.
The assassination of Rafiq Hariri, which many blamed on Syria, sparked massive protests that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman appointed Mr. Hariri on Saturday, after a majority of lawmakers had nominated him.
Speaking at the presidential palace, Mr. Hariri pledged to work to mend divisions between Lebanon's rival political factions and to form a harmonious unity government.
The 39-year-old Saad Hariri heads a pro-Western party that won elections earlier this month. A coalition led by Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran and Syria, has the second largest number of seats in Lebanon's 128-seat assembly.
Mr. Hariri and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah have pledged to cooperate in forming a unity government. But Mr. Hariri says he will not allow the Hezbollah alliance to keep the veto power it has benefited from in the outgoing cabinet.
Thursday, Lebanese lawmakers re-elected pro-Hezbollah lawmaker Nabih Berri as parliamentary speaker. He has held the the position since 1992.
In Lebanon's complex power-sharing system, the prime minister must always be a Sunni Muslim, while the speaker of parliament is a Shi'ite and the president a Maronite Christian.
The assassination of Rafiq Hariri, which many blamed on Syria, sparked massive protests that led to the withdrawal of Syrian troops from Lebanon.