#LEBANON: Two Months After Elections, Prime Minister Believes This Time, Government Close To Forming

[world politics news]

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri says he's confident he can form a government with multiple squabbling political parties and religious factions jockeying for power in a 30-member national unity government. Elections were held on June 30, the first elections held in the country since 2009, but a government has been unable to form since then.

[FULL STORY HERE]

#LEBANON: PM Resigns, Citing Meddling From Iran, Hezbollah Death Threats

[world politics news]

Saad Hariri has announced his resignation as Lebanon's prime minister and implicitly blamed Iran and its Lebanese ally, Hezbollah, for his decision. In a televised speech on Saturday, he said he suspected there were covert plans to target his life, but he did not elaborate. Hariri, who made the statement during a visit to Saudi Arabia, said Iran planted "disorder and destruction" in the country and meddled in the internal issues of Lebanon as well as other Arab countries.

[FULL STORY HERE]