Lebanon's New PM A Vocal Critic Of Hezbollah, Syria

BEIRUT, Nov 3, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 03rd Nov, 2016 ) - Lebanon's new prime minister Saad Hariri, the son of former billionaire premier Rafik Hariri, is a vociferous critic of Hezbollah and the Syrian regime which he blames for his father's assassination.

The 46-year-old was nominated Thursday to form a cabinet by his one-time political adversary, President Michel Aoun, who took office this week after receiving the surprise support of his old foe.

Hariri, who has already served as prime minister once before, has a political career marked by his opposition to the powerful Shiite movement Hezbollah, which is allied with Aoun. The movement is a key backer of the government in neighbouring Syria, which Hariri accuses of having planned his father's murder.

He was a leading proponent of the departure of Syrian forces from Lebanon in 2005, after mass demonstrations following the assassination. Hariri, who now sports a beard along with his trademark slicked-back locks, returns to the office in a bid to restore the standing of Lebanon's Sunni community and counterbalance Hezbollah's influence.

Born in Saudi Arabia, where his father made his fortune, he was running the family's Oger construction firm when Rafik Hariri was assassinated in February 2005. At his family's urging, he returned to Lebanon to enter politics, heading an anti-Syrian bloc to victory in the 2005 legislative elections.