November 10, 2009 7:55 PM

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Hariri forms national unity Govt

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has formed a government of national unity last night after more than four months of tough negotiations with opposition led by Hezbollah.<br/><br/>According to Lebanon's National News Agency, the new 30-member cabinet was announced in a decree signed by Hariri and President Michel Sleiman. Talking to reporters after the decree was made public Hariri expressed the hope that the new cabinet will work together in tackling the challenges facing the country.<br/><br/>The cabinet includes 15 ministers from Hariri's bloc and 10 from the opposition. The remaining five ministers were appointed by President Sleiman, including the holders of the key interior and Defence portfolios. Opposition Hezbollah has two ministers in the new cabinet<br/><br/>UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Lebanon’s new national unity government to fully implement the Security Council resolution that ended the war between Israel and Hizbollah three years ago. That resolution called for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah militants, respect for the so-called Blue Line separating the Israeli and Lebanese sides, disarming of militias and an end to arms smuggling. Hizbollah, which has not disarmed, is part of the new unity government.<br/><br/>Analysts say that new government will have to tackle economic problems , Lebanon is facing apart from Hezbollah's weapons stockpile.<br/><br/>

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