Lebanon's Hariri launches new talks to form govt

Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri began talks on Thursday to form a new government.

Hariri was designated prime minister last week, assuming the task for a second time since a June parliamentary election won by his Saudi- and U.S.-backed "March 14" coalition.

The billionaire Sunni politician, son of assassinated statesman Rafik al-Hariri, abandoned his first attempt at forming a government earlier this month. He blamed rivals backed by Syria, including the powerful Shi'ite group Hezbollah, for obstructing his efforts to forge a unity cabinet.

Reuters Last Mod: 24 Eylül 2009, 18:33