Lebanon Has New Premier

Lebanon’s president on Friday named moderate pro-Syria lawmaker Najib Mikati prime minister, breaking a political deadlock and reviving chances of a parliamentary election next month.

The vote is crucial for the opposition, which backed the Harvard-educated millionaire businessman in an effort to end the impasse in forming a government and open the way for the election that many believe will end Syria’s hold on parliament.

The legislature’s term expires at the end of May.

Mikati’s appointment came two days after Prime Minister-designate Omar Karami quit following several weeks of failed efforts to form a government.

Mikati, 49, first elected to parliament in 2000, has recently distanced himself from the pro-Syria camp, though he maintains business ties to Syria.

Mikati boycotted Karami’s ill-fated consultations to form a Cabinet last month in parliament. Instead, he prayed at the nearby grave of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, whose Feb. 14 assassination was the catalyst for massive anti-Syria protests and international pressure that forced Damascus to begin withdrawing its troops and spies from Lebanon.

Mikati is a Sunni Muslim -- as all prime ministers must be under Lebanon’s sectarian-based political system, which allots the presidency to a Maronite Christian and the parliament speaker’s post to a Shiite Muslim.

“We will be the symbol of moderation and national unity,” Mikati declared from the presidential palace after his appointment.

Mikati won the backing of anti-Syria opposition lawmakers along with some ardent supporters of Damascus in a poll taken by President Emile Lahoud of the 128-member parliament.

The government’s main task is to steer an electoral bill through parliament and call an election.