Hezbollah placed to choose Lebanon\'s next prime minister Leila Fadel

BEIRUT:

The Shiite movement Hezbollah has the support for its candidate to become Lebanon\'s prime minister, effectively ending the Western-backed rule of United States allies who came to power more than five years ago.

The parliamentary support apparently seals the nomination of Najib Mikati, a Sunni billionaire known as a moderate who has good relations with Syria, Turkey, Arab neighbours and the West.

But despite Hezbollah\'s calls for a unity government, the caretaker Prime Minister, Saad al-Hariri, said he would not take part in a government led by the Hezbollah-backed candidate.

Advertisement: Story continues below His announcement reinforces the stand-off between the Sunni leader and Hezbollah that has stoked fears of civil unrest and war.

Even if Mr Mikati is nominated, Mr Hariri\'s rejection of his candidacy will likely stall formation of a government.

\'Any talk about a consensual candidate is an attempt to throw dust in the eyes, for there is no consensual candidate presented to the parliamentary consultations today,\'\' a statement from Mr Hariri\'s office said.

The President, Michel Suleiman, launched meetings with parliament members to choose the next prime minister.

The office of the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, did not comment on Hezbollah\'s announcement that it had enough votes to select the next prime minister.

An Israeli official, who wished to remain anonymous, said: \'\'Obviously, we are watching developments in Lebanon closely. We have been concerned over recent months about Iran gaining direct domination of the country through Hezbollah. We want the border to remain quiet.\'\'Mr Hariri\'s US-backed government collapsed this month when a Hezbollah-led alliance pulled out over Mr Hariri\'s refusal to renounce the United Nations tribunal investigating his father\'s assassination five years ago.

The tribunal\'s sealed indictment is expected to accuse Hezbollah members of the crime, allegations that the organisation angrily denies.

If a Hezbollah-backed candidate wins power, US officials are likely to stop co-operating with the Lebanese government. Lebanese officials and observers dismissed this as irrelevant to the government\'s formation.

\'The West\'s record of democracy in the Middle East if anything should be called shameful,\'\' said Hassan Khalil, the publisher of the left-leaning Lebanese daily Al Akhbar. \'\'Mikati is not coming to power by force, a coup or by civil unrest. Mikati is coming to power by the parliamentary system of Lebanon.\'\'

Mr Mikati, who was ranked the 374th richest man in the world by Forbes magazine last year, officially announced his candidacy on Sunday. The businessman, educated in Lebanon and the US, served as Lebanon\'s prime minister briefly in 2005.

He was likely to have been chosen as someone who would have credibility among Sunnis after Mr Hariri was ousted.

Mr Mikati announced his nomination only after a visit to Syria, where officials say he received the blessing of President Bashar al-Assad.


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