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                Lebanon Forms Government After 10-Month Deadlock

   Lebanon has announced a new Cabinet that includes a wide range of
   political groups, breaking months of bitter infighting, mostly over
   Syria`s civil war.
   Prime Minister Tamam Salam announced his 24-member national unity
   government on Saturday.
   Parliament had designated the Sunni lawmaker as prime minister in April
   last year. But rivalries between the Shi`ite Hezbollah-dominated March
   8 coalition and the Sunni-led March 14 alliance had prevented Mr. Salam
   from forming a government.
   Agreement was reached when the March 14 alliance agreed to withdraw its
   choice for interior minister after strong opposition from Hezbollah.
   United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-moon welcomed the Cabinet
   formation, saying the severity of Lebanon`s security, humanitarian and
   economic issues should spur the government to act without delay to
   address these challenges.
   Syria`s civil war has spilled over into neighboring Lebanon and sharply
   divided its population.
   Mr. Salam said the new Cabinet will have to face the explosive social
   issue created by nearly a million Syrian refugees fleeing to Lebanon,
   which has a population of 4 million.
   The Cabinet is not expected to remain in office long because a new
   government is slated to be formed after President Michel Suleiman`s
   six-year term ends in May and a new head of state is elected.
   A caretaker government has run the country since former Prime Minister
   Najib Mikati resigned last year.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/lebanon-forms-government-after-10mont
   h-deadlock/1852223.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/lebanon-forms-government-after-10month-deadlock/1852223.html