Lebanon's Mikati seeks to form government

Billionaire businessman Najib Mikati will launch efforts on Thursday to form a new government after defeating rival Sunni Muslim leader Saad al-Hariri, whose government collapsed two weeks ago.

Mikati, a centrist lawmaker with ties to both Saudi Arabia and Syria, was supported by Hezbollah and its allies in a poll of parliamentarians. He says he is a consensus figure who wants all parties included in his cabinet.

But his appointment triggered widespread protests on Tuesday by Hariri supporters and will alarm Israel and the United States because he came to office with support of the Shi'ite group which fought Israel to a standstill in a 2006 war.