BEIRUT, Lebanon, June 17 (UPI) -- The new government in Lebanon will work to protect the people who assassinated former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, a former finance minister said.
Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced Monday he formed a new government that puts the March 8 coalition, which includes Syrian allies and members of Hezbollah, in the majority.
Hezbollah in January helped bring about the collapse of the government of Saad Hariri, son of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.
A U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination had spoken to members of Hezbollah during their investigation and it's widely expected the Shiite resistance movement had a hand in the slaying.
Former Lebanese Finance Minister Mohamed Shatah told London's pan-Arab newspaper Asharq al-Awsat that rival members in the March 14 were upset the new government was controlled by Hezbollah and its allies.
He said the Mikati government would be out of step with emerging developments in the Arab world and was "working to protect the killers of Rafik Hariri."
Some U.S. lawmakers said developments in Beirut suggested it was time to withdraw aid to Lebanon. A U.S. State Department official said, however, that Washington was taking a wait-and-see approach.
