Leaders hail new government in Lebanon

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined world leaders in welcoming the new unity government in Lebanon but warned of more work to come.

Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri submitted his list of Cabinet ministers to President Michel Suleiman on Monday following months of political wrangling.

Hariri led his March 14 slate to power in June parliamentary elections over the opposition March 8 coalition. He secured a power-sharing arrangement with opposition leaders that outlined the allocation of Cabinet posts in the new government.

Ban in a statement through his office welcomed the agreement, saying he looked forward to a government that worked together "in a spirit of unity, dialogue and cooperation."

The White House issued a similar statement of congratulations, saying it would work with a Lebanese government "committed to extending its authority over all of Lebanon, and to advancing political and economic reforms that benefit the people of Lebanon."

Ban, however, reminded the Lebanese government of its obligations under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1701, which helped broker a truce to a 34-day war between Hezbollah and Israeli forces in 2006.

Washington shared his views, saying it would stand by its partners in Beirut who were committed to Lebanese sovereignty.

Resolution 1701 urges Israel to respect Lebanese sovereignty while calling on Hezbollah to lay down its weapons.

Hezbollah won two Cabinet positions in the new Lebanese government.