 Lebanese leaders appointed a new government Tuesday, ending a seven-week stalemate and pushing the country toward crucial parliamentary elections. The breakthrough came as the number of Syrian troops in Lebanon dwindled to 1,000 the lowest in 29 years. Lebanon plunged into political crisis with the Feb. 14 assassination of former Prime Minster Rafik Hariri, which ushered in almost two months without a firm government and increased calls by the opposition and the United States for Syria to withdraw all its forces before new elections could be held in the country. Lebanon's opposition has accused the then Syrian-backed Lebanese government and Syria of involvement in the bombing that killed Hariri and 20 others charges both countries denied. But the United States said it also wanted Syria to end the presence of its intelligence services in Lebanon to allow for elections without any pressure from Damascus. The political breakthrough came when Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati succeeded on Tuesday in forming a new Cabinet, paving the way for parliamentary elections next month. Mikati announced the formation of an exceptionally small Cabinet, with only 14 ministers instead of the outgoing 30. None will run in the elections a condition Mikati sought to show neutrality in the bitter polarization between pro- and anti-Syrian factions. |