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.

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 “day of rage” to protest the appointment of Sunni billionaire Mikati, a centrist lawmaker with ties to both Saudi Arabia and Syria.