Lebanon to forge new future

Lebanon is looking to a new future after its warring factions formed a unity government, but big challenges lie ahead.

The cabinet, led by Prime Minister Fouad Siniora, brings together pro and anti-Syrian groups, including Hizbollah, meaning Damascus has regained some of political influence in the country.

Its main tasks will be to contain sectarian tensions, prepare for elections and start talks on the fate of Hizbollah’s military wing.

Crucially, Hizbollah and its allies will have veto power in the cabinet. The opposition was guaranteed 11 of the 30 seats under a deal agreed in May to end tensions that sparked some of
the worst fighting since the 1975-90 civil war.

But people are wary the hostilities will resurface.

Despite the simmering tensions, there’s cautious optimism the political crisis that threatened to plunge the country back into all-out conflict could finally be at an end.

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