Coalition leader Saad Hariri was reappointed prime minister-designate on Wednesday after he stepped down from the post last week, a presidential statement said. Hariri was called on by Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman to form a government after 73 lawmakers nominated him to the post.
"Following consultations with the speaker of parliament and MPs ... the president has called on Saad Hariri to form a government," the statement said.
Hariri abandoned a first bid to form a national unity government last week after the opposition rejected his proposed cabinet line-up.
Earlier, the Hizbullah-led opposition voiced willingness to cooperate with Hariri to facilitate formation of a national unity government. A coalition source quoted by the daily al-Liwaa said Wednesday, Hariri will not pick up consultations where he left off last time, stressing that "things are wide open to all possibilities."
The source confirmed that Hariri would not back down on pledges regarding a Cabinet lineup.
Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported talks on government formation are likely to be extended since Eid el-Fitr falls on Sunday, Sept. 20 and Suleiman heads to New York Sept. 22.
