"Hezbolleh gains veto power in Lebanon; Members denied most important posts by majority" by Hussein Dakroub, Associated Press | July 12, 2008
BEIRUT - Hezbollah and its allies solidified their hold on Lebanon's government yesterday with the formation of a national unity Cabinet that gives them veto power over government decisions.
Still, the Western-backed parliamentary majority denied the Hezbollah-led opposition any of the most important Cabinet positions, except for the one it already held - foreign affairs.
The Cabinet's formation ends six weeks of wrangling over how to distribute the posts, and is another step toward healing the country's deep political divide.
The unity government is the outcome of a deal brokered by the Arab League in May, under which the opposition agreed to rejoin the government after its rivals gave in to demands to have a final say over all government decisions.
That deal came after Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants and allied gunmen fanned out across Lebanon's capital in May, clashing with government supporters. The violence killed at least 81 people and brought the country to the brink of another civil war.
The opposition dropped demands to take two of the four key ministerial portfolios: defense, interior, finance, and foreign affairs.
In Washington, the State Department praised the creation of the new government as a critical step in restoring democracy to Lebanon but stressed that, as in the past, it would not have contact with Cabinet members who belong to Hezbollah.
Hezbollah's ascendancy is a setback for the United States, which had backed the outgoing Lebanese government for three years and is concerned that Iran's influence is spreading in the Middle East.
Iran also welcomed the new government. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said he hoped it would lead to a "strengthening of national unity among the Lebanese," Lebanon's National News Agency reported.
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This is about where I threw in the towel today.
So tired of the bull-oney!
