Beirut - The leader of the Lebanon's Western-backed ruling
majority, Saad Hariri met overnight with Hezbollah Chief Shiekh
Hassan Nasrallah, in a move aimed at enhancing unity in the country,
the Hezbollah-run al-Manar television said Friday
A source close to Hariri told the German Press Agency dpa, that
the meeting lasted four hours, during which Nasrallah and Hariri
discussed the formation of the next cabinet and the political
situation following the June 7th parliamentary elections.
Hariri's coaltion won 71 seats in the 128-member parliament
election in June, while the opposition-led by Hezbollah gathered 57.
'They emphasized the importance of following up on dialogue and
praised all political parties' efforts to reduce tensions,' the
source said.
This is the second meeting between Nasrallah and a key member of
the Western-backed ruling majority this month. On June 18th, Druze
leader Walid Jumblatt met with the Hezbollah chief, after which both
men stressed the importance of forging a 'comprehensive
reconciliation.'
On May 7 2008, the political crisis between the majority and the
Hezbollah-led opposition reached a breaking point, when Hezbollah and
its allies briefly took control of the predominantly Sunni Muslim
half of Beirut, sparking fighting with followers of rival leaders,
including Hariri's.
Observers believe that the meeting between Hariri and Nasrallah
will have 'a positive impact' on the parliamentary consultations,
which will start Friday afternoon between President Michel Suleiman
and the parliamentary blocs to name a new premier for the country.
Hariri is expected to be named premier for the new unity cabinet
which will include 30 ministers from the major electoral blocs.
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