Lebanon set to name anti-Syria PM

[frigidmagi]

BBC

Lebanon is set to appoint a new prime minister to head the first government free of Syrian interference since 1975.

Consultations between President Emile Lahoud and MPs are likely to result in the naming of Fouad Siniora, an ally of of slain ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

Mr Hariri's son and political heir Saad now holds a majority in parliament with several other anti-Syrian blocs.

On Wednesday, Mr Hariri was reconciled with maverick ex-army chief Michel Aoun after a bitter dispute during polls.

Under the Lebanese system, the president meets legislators at the Baabda palace in eastern Beirut and asks them for their nomination.

At the end of the meetings, the president must appoint the MP with the most backers.

Mr Hariri's bloc holds 36 seats in the 128-seat parliament but with its anti-Syrian allies it can count on 72 votes.

His allies include Druze leader Walid Jumblatt as well as the hardline Christian Mr Aoun.

On Tuesday, legislators re-elected staunch Syrian ally Nabih Berri as speaker of the house for the fourth four-year term.

Correspondents said the compromise over Mr Berri highlights how hard it will be for anti-Syrian lawmakers to erase Damascus's influence over Lebanese politics.

Hey Syria? Suck it. (Look with the Iran elections and my own Supreme Court I need something okay?)

[Ra]

I'm glad to see some progress over there, even if the damn Syrians haven't completely lost their grip on the country.
- Ra