Lebanon prime minister forms government

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati formed a new government today to boost chances a May election could be held on time as …

Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati formed a new government today to boost chances a May election could be held on time as demanded by the international community and the anti-Syrian opposition.

An source said the new cabinet, which will be announced later in the day, was made up of political and business figures who would not be running in the poll.

A political source said the government would include 14 ministers.

The new government now has 10 days to win a confidence vote in parliament and draft and steer through the assembly an electoral law if the polls are to be held on time.

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Mr Mikati, who maintains close political and business ties to Syria, was appointed last week. Lebanon has been without a government since February 28th in a crisis sparked by the killing of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri.