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Reuters
BEIRUT
Lebanon's president asked Sunni Muslim leader Saad al Hariri to form a new government on Thursday after he won the support of a majority of MPs and the endorsement of the influential parliament speaker.
Hariri's nomination is part of a political deal that resulted in the election of Christian leader Michel Aoun, a close ally of the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, as head of state on Monday, ending a 2-1/2 year long presidential vacuum.
The quick formation of a new administration with cross-party support will help revive government in a country where political conflict has paralysed decision-making, economic development and basic services, and raised fears for its stability. page 11
