Hezbollah has role in government -- Hariri

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Hezbollah will take part in the next national unity government in Beirut regardless of any position taken by Israel, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri said.

The Israeli government has raised allegations that Hezbollah was preparing to launch a strike on its country amid border tensions with Lebanon. Both parties fought a bruising 34-day war in 2006.

Hariri, following a meeting with representatives of Hezbollah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah, said Hezbollah should serve in the next government due to a national interest of unity, Lebanon's Daily Star newspaper reports.

"The national-unity Cabinet will include both the March 14 forces and Hezbollah whether the Israeli enemy wanted or not," he said.

The presumptive prime minster said that apart from constant threats from Israel, Lebanon faces a variety of social and economic challenges that no single party can handle on its own.

Hariri led his Western-backed March 14 slate to victory in June parliamentary elections, pledging to work swiftly to form a new unity government.

Hezbollah joined some members of the opposition March 8 coalition in backing a power-sharing agreement for the next government that gives 15 ministers to March 14, 10 to March 8 and five for backers of Lebanese President Michel Suleiman.

Mohammad Fneish, a Hezbollah lawmaker and caretaker labor minister, said his party was looking forward to working with Hariri on the next government.