The Lebanese government announced Friday it has reached a unity Cabinet aimed at stabilizing the country torn by internal strife.

Supporters carry posters of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah during demonstrations in May.

In keeping with a deal sponsored by the Arab League, the new Cabinet gives 11 seats to Hezbollah and the militant group’s allies that oppose the government, 16 to the government and three to the Lebanese president to fill by appointment. The agreement gives Hezbollah veto power.

The Cabinet’s first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.

Lebanon’s Western-backed government and its Hezbollah-led opposition reached a deal in May aimed at ending an 18-month political crisis that pushed the country to the brink of civil war.

As part of the deal, the Parliament named Gen. Michel Sleiman president, filling a six-month vacancy created by the November departure of President Emile Lahoud. Sleiman then appointed Western ally Fouad Siniora as prime minister.

The agreement came out of a May meeting at Doha, Qatar, when the Hezbollah opposition agreed to end its sit-in protest that had paralyzed downtown Beirut since late 2006 in exchange for veto power and a redistricting plan ahead of next year’s elections.

Earlier in May, armed Hezbollah supporters took to the streets of Beirut after Lebanon’s government banned a telecommunications system used by the Shiite militia.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the government’s attempts to control the militia “a declaration of open war” and vowed that his supporters would defend themselves.

Minutes after his address, Hezbollah gunmen exchanged fire with pro-government militias in the streets of Beirut. The violence spread across other areas of Lebanon, and soon became the worst outbreak of internal strife to hit the country since the end of its civil war in 1991.

The fighting ended a week later when the Lebanese government gave in to two key Hezbollah demands — lifting a government ban of Hezbollah’s telecommunications system and reinstating the chief of security at Beirut’s airport.

Gen. Michel Suleiman prepares to take office as Lebanon’s 12th President Monday after his election was hailed by world leaders and his inauguration speech drew domestic praise. Suleiman, who spent the night at his home in suburban Fayadiyeh, is due to head to the Presidential palace in nearby Baabda at 12 p.m. Monday. (more…)

Lebanon’s new president Michel Suleiman appealed for unity on Sunday after being sworn in following a parliament vote that many hope will turn a new page in the crisis-ridden nation. (more…)

Posted by AFP-Gen. Michel Suleiman prepares to take office as Lebanon’s 12th President Monday after his election was hailed by world leaders and his inauguration speech drew domestic praise.  Suleiman, who spent the night at his home in suburban Fayadiyeh, is due to head to the Presidential palace in nearby Baabda at 12 p.m. Monday. (more…)

Lebanon’s Army Commander Michel Suleiman was elected president by lawmakers on Sunday in a first step towards ending a long-running political crisis.
Celebratory gunfire and occasional explosions reverberated across the capital Beirut as news of Suleiman’s election was announced. (more…)

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General Michel Suleiman was elected 20th Lebanese president in widely arab attended sesion. Fire works and raffles of artillery was heard shortly on the street. The majority and the opposition factions clinched an agreement to form a national unity government. The parliament convened on Sunday to elect army chief General Michel Suleiman president.
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