Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati has announced a long-delayed new government, which is dominated by allies of Iranian-backed Hezbollah. The move is likely to cause alarm among Western powers.
Mikati was appointed to form a government after Hezbollah and its allies toppled Western-backed former premier Saad al-Hariri's coalition in January over a dispute involving the UN-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, Saad's father.
Mikati said on June 13 that his ministers would go to work immediately "defending Lebanon's sovereignty and its independence."
Political wrangling, including disagreements about who should take sensitive ministerial posts, had held up the formation of the cabinet.
compiled from agency reports
Mikati was appointed to form a government after Hezbollah and its allies toppled Western-backed former premier Saad al-Hariri's coalition in January over a dispute involving the UN-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of Rafik al-Hariri, Saad's father.
Mikati said on June 13 that his ministers would go to work immediately "defending Lebanon's sovereignty and its independence."
Political wrangling, including disagreements about who should take sensitive ministerial posts, had held up the formation of the cabinet.
compiled from agency reports