Hariri quits as prime minister-designate

September 10, 2009

Saad Hariri announced on Thursday that he was stepping down as Lebanon's prime minister-designate, accusing the Hezbollah-led opposition of months of efforts to unlock a political stalemate. Hariri, the son of assassinated ex-premier Rafiq Hariri and head of the Western-backed parliamentary majority, was named premier on June 27. His announcement comes after more than two months of fruitless efforts, and days after Hezbollah rejected his latest proposal to divide the 30-seat cabinet.