Hariri opens door to Hezbollah involvement

BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 10 (UPI) -- The leader of the ruling March 14 coalition that secured the majority in the Sunday parliamentary elections in Lebanon opened the door to the opposition.

The March 14 coalition led by Saad Hariri, son of slain former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, won the majority of the parliamentary seats in Lebanon over the opposition March 8, which includes Hezbollah.

Analysts in the prelude to the vote worried that a March 14 victory would leave ongoing political disputes unresolved, while a March 8 majority would have a difficult time forming a national unity government.

Hariri in an interview with the Financial Times said rival coalitions were moving ahead with negotiations in an effort to reach concessions for the next government.

"I think we have to lower the temperature on the division," he said.

Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah offered his congratulations to the March 14 victors, while Hariri distanced himself and his March 14 slate from its pro-Western label.

"We are not pro-Western, we are pro-Lebanon," he stressed.

With the March 14 victory, several analysts and observers expect Hariri will emerge in a unity government as the next Lebanese premier.