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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Lebanon government accord reached | Lebanon government accord reached |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Lebanon's political opposition has agreed to join a unity government under Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri. | Lebanon's political opposition has agreed to join a unity government under Prime Minister designate Saad Hariri. |
| Hezbollah - a powerful Shia political and military organisation - says the opposition alliance it leads agreed to the move after talks on Friday. | Hezbollah - a powerful Shia political and military organisation - says the opposition alliance it leads agreed to the move after talks on Friday. |
| The governing coalition is believed to have agreed to a number of concessions, ending the deadlock that has existed since June's parliamentary elections. | The governing coalition is believed to have agreed to a number of concessions, ending the deadlock that has existed since June's parliamentary elections. |
| Mr Hariri is expected to formally announce the deal shortly. | |
| The BBC's Natalia Antelava in Beirut says the concessions made by Mr Hariri are believed to give the opposition control of ministries it had been seeking. | The BBC's Natalia Antelava in Beirut says the concessions made by Mr Hariri are believed to give the opposition control of ministries it had been seeking. |
| Reports say the new arrangement will allow Mr Hariri's alliance to nominate 15 ministers, with Hezbollah taking 10 portfolios. The remaining five ministers would be picked by President Michel Suleiman. | Reports say the new arrangement will allow Mr Hariri's alliance to nominate 15 ministers, with Hezbollah taking 10 portfolios. The remaining five ministers would be picked by President Michel Suleiman. |
| Disputes | Disputes |
| Mr Hariri - who is also backed by the US - led what many described as an anti-Syrian coalition to victory in the elections five months ago. | Mr Hariri - who is also backed by the US - led what many described as an anti-Syrian coalition to victory in the elections five months ago. |
| Syria was a significant political player in neighbouring Lebanon for nearly 30 years until the death of Mr Hariri's father, Rafik, in 2005. | Syria was a significant political player in neighbouring Lebanon for nearly 30 years until the death of Mr Hariri's father, Rafik, in 2005. |
| Saad Hariri has spent the time since then trying to broker a deal with the opposition to join a unity cabinet. But he has faced a number of disputes over details, specifically the division of ministerial portfolios. | Saad Hariri has spent the time since then trying to broker a deal with the opposition to join a unity cabinet. But he has faced a number of disputes over details, specifically the division of ministerial portfolios. |
| One of the sticking points centred on demands by Michel Aoun, a Christian leader and Hezbollah ally who is seeking to keep the telecommunications ministry. | One of the sticking points centred on demands by Michel Aoun, a Christian leader and Hezbollah ally who is seeking to keep the telecommunications ministry. |
| It is not yet clear if his demands are among the concessions agreed to by Mr Hariri. | It is not yet clear if his demands are among the concessions agreed to by Mr Hariri. |
| Our correspondent said Mr Hariri is now expected to give the list of names to Mr Suleiman, and once those are approved, the government will be formed. | Our correspondent said Mr Hariri is now expected to give the list of names to Mr Suleiman, and once those are approved, the government will be formed. |
| There had been growing international concern over the deadlock and its impact on regional security and the Lebanese economy. | There had been growing international concern over the deadlock and its impact on regional security and the Lebanese economy. |