Lebanon's opposition agrees to unity government plan

A unity government is close to forming in Lebanon after prime minister-designate Saad Hariri granted concessions on key cabinet posts to his rivals in the Hezbollah-led opposition.

Hezbollah announced yesterday that it would join the coalition government after the movement's chief, Hassan Nasrallah, participated in a summit meeting with other opposition faction leaders, including Michel Aoun (leader of the Christian pro-Syrian "Free Patriotic Movement"), Amal movement leader Nabih Berri and others.

"Those who took part in the meeting agreed to join a national unity government based on the agreements reached during negotiations," the opposition said in a statement obtained by AFP. "We hope that this step will be beneficial for Lebanon and its people."

The agreement comes after five months of arduous negotiations. Arab television stations reported yesterday that Hezbollah agreed to join the coalition following a change of instructions from Iran, as Tehran authorized the movement to join the new government.

The television stations also reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem's meeting in Tehran last week with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki dealt extensively with the question of joining the new unity government, as did meetings between Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, the emir of Qatar, and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Warming relations between the leaders of Syria and Saudi Arabia following the summit also paved the way for Iran's consent to Hezbollah to join the government.

The new arrangement in the Lebanese administration designates 15 of the 30 cabinet seats for the coalition and 10 for the opposition. Five more seats will be appointed by Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.

Ultimately, the opposition faction leaders received most of the cabinet seats they had sought, and the deal effectively grants the Hezbollah camp veto power over all government decisions.