Naming of Hezbollah PM sparks riots in Lebanon

HUNDREDS of protesters burned tires and blocked roads across Lebanon yesterday after a Hezbollah-backed politician was named prime minister, shifting the balance of power in the country toward Syria and Iran.

Naming of Hezbollah PM sparks riots in Lebanon

The nomination of Najib Mikati is seen as a victory for Hezbollah, which is trying to fend off a UN-backed tribunal set up in 2005 to try the killers of statesman Rafik al-Hariri and is expected to accuse members of the Shi’ite group.

Sunni Muslims loyal to outgoing premier Saad al-Hariri, Rafik’s son who has Western and Saudi backing, staged a ā€œday of rageā€ to protest the appointment of Sunni billionaire Mikati, a centrist lawmaker with ties to both Saudi Arabia and Syria.

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