Lebanese Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's government won a resounding vote of confidence from parliament on Thursday, paving the way for his expected visit to Syria for talks with the country's president.
Lebanon's new government, which backs Hezbollah's right to keep its arms, won the support of 122 of the 128-seat assembly. One deputy voted against while one abstained and four were absentees, speaker Nabih Berri said.
The Parliament endorsed Hariri's government after a 3-day debate during which the issue of Hezbollah's arms was a heated topic.
Hezbollah
Christian MPs and ministers of the Hariri-led parliamentary majority voiced discontent over the clause, which states the right of "Lebanon, its government, its people, its army and its resistance" to liberate all Lebanese territory.
But they nonetheless granted the cabinet their votes on Thursday.
Hezbollah, which fought a devastating war with Israel in 2006, is commonly referred to as the resistance in Lebanon.
But Hezbollah, which has two ministers in cabinet, regularly states its weapons are not open to discussion.
It argues its arms are necessary to protect the country against any future aggression by Israel, which withdrew from southern Lebanon in 2000 after a 22-year occupation.
Hariri, a 39-year-old Sunni Muslim businessman, had been keen on securing the backing of his powerful Shiite rivals, who are close allies of neighboring Syria, to ensure a smooth launch for his administration.
No date has been set for Hariri's expected trip to Syria for talks with President Bashar al-Assad, but Lebanese media said that it could be this month.
Better relations with Arab countries
We specially look forward to Lebanese and Syrian relations founded on brotherly ties ... based on respecting the sovereignty of both countries
Before the vote, Hariri told the assembly that Lebanon was looking for better relations with Arab countries.
"We specially look forward to Lebanese and Syrian relations founded on brotherly ties ... based on respecting the sovereignty of both countries," he said.
Hariri's coalition, backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, had accused Syria of assassinating statesman Rafik al-Hariri, Saad's father, in February 2005.
Syria denies any links, but the killing forced Damascus to end its 29-year military presence in Lebanon in April 2005 and led to the formation of a special court in The Hague to investigate and prosecute the killers.
Lebanon remained without a functioning government for months after June elections which Hariri's coalition won over Iranian and Syrian-backed Hezbollah and its allies.
But with Syria and Saudi Arabia keen to improve bilateral ties and ease political and sectarian tensions in Lebanon, they nudged their allies to agree on a unity government that gave Hariri's coalition 15 ministers in a 30-member cabinet, Hezbollah and its allies 10 and President Michel Suleiman five.
Hariri's government, which he formed last month, had also pledged to tackle economic woes and financial stability. Lebanon had largely shrugged off the effects of the global financial crisis but has public debt of around $50 billion.
"People want electricity, people want clean environment, clean water and people want justice (in getting) education and health care," Hariri told the parliament.
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