Lebanese president tasks Hariri with forming new government

Lebanese President Michel Aoun has appointed former prime minister Saad Hariri as the country's prime minister-designate just a year after his resignation from office.

Hariri won the backing of a majority of parliamentarians in consultations with Aoun on Thursday.

The prime minister-designate, who has previously led three governments in Lebanon, stepped down almost a year ago under pressure from unprecedented protests against economic hardships.

SS