Hariri ready to formgovt with Hezbollah

(MENAFN-Arab News) BEIRUT: Ex-Premier Saad Hariri has said his bloc is prepared to form a government with Hezbollah to resolve Lebanon’s months-long political deadlock, although they back opposite sides in the Syrian conflict

The shift by Hariri, who heads the so-called March 14 coalition, comes despite a Beirut car bombing last month that killed a Hariri adviser, Mohammad Chatah, and was blamed by his bloc on Syrian-backed Shiite movement Hezbollah

Hariri, in an interview with his Future TV broadcast late on Monday, also stressed that Hezbollah ministers in any future government he heads must not have veto powers

For nine months, since the resignation of prime minister Najib Mikati, Lebanon has been in political paralysis, with March 14 and Hezbollah and its allies unable to agree on a new government. “We have been targeted with assassinations for nine years, and we have waited and waited. But will we wait for the country to burn down?” Hariri told Future TV

“I have made this decision (to accept forming a government with Hezbollah) for the sake of Lebanon’s interests, rather than my own,” Hariri added

But, he said, “I will not accept (that Hezbollah hold) the veto-wielding third” of posts in a future Cabinet

Hariri also stressed he would not allow a future government to provide cover for Hezbollah’s role in the war in neighboring Syria, and that he would insist Lebanon remain neutral.