Lebanon announces forming of new cabinet

Lebanon has announced forming a new 30-minster cabinet led by Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri.

The new government was announced on state television on Sunday and brings together the country’s whole political spectrum except for the Christian Phalangist party, which did not accept the portfolio it was offered.

"Today a new government was formed…This is a government of entente," said Hariri of the new cabinet, formed six weeks after the election of President Michel Aoun.

The new lineup keeps Gebran Bassil as the foreign minister, Ali Hassan Khalil as the finance minister, and Nouhad Machnouk as the interior minister, and includes Yacoub al-Sarraf as the new defense minister and Cesar Abou Khalil as the new minister for energy and water. Moreover, new posts such as anti-corruption minister and minister of state for women's affairs have been added to the government.  

SS