Syria, France pledge hands off in Beirut

BEIRUT, Lebanon, July 8 (UPI) -- The formation of the next government in Beirut is strictly a Lebanese affair as the country moves ahead after elections, Syrian and French officials say.

Saad Hariri led his Western-backed March 14 slate to victory over the pro-Syrian March 8 opposition group in the June 7 parliamentary elections.

Hariri was later appointed as the next Lebanese prime minister following his nomination by 85 of the 128 members of the Lebanese Parliament in June and is now tasked with forming the next government.

The prime minister-elect stressed earlier this week that the development of the next government was a matter for Lebanon to consider, warning against outside interference.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, while calling on Hariri to work toward a "real" unity government, maintained the matter was for Lebanon to decide, the Lebanese Daily Star reports.

"Syria did not interfere in the June 7 parliamentary elections and will not interfere in the Cabinet formation," he said.

His comments were backed by French officials, who said through a spokesman that government affairs were "strictly" Lebanese concerns.

Syrian influence loomed large in Lebanese affairs for decades, though it has waned to some extent following the 2005 Cedar Revolution that saw Syrian forces withdraw from Lebanon under a U.N. mandate. Both countries received their independence from France in the early 20th century.