Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman has designated Saad al-Hariri as Lebanon's next prime minister. As the son of former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, who was assassinated in a Beirut car bombing in 2005, his appointment carries deep symbolism. Hariri's pro-Western March 14 alliance beat out the Hizbullah-led opposition in June's parliamentary elections. Although Hariri has pledged to work together with the opposition, stating that he would include its members in his cabinet, the policy-making process in Lebanon will remain challenging. Indeed, March 14 does not have the necessary two-thirds majority to approve policies, and the opposition has shown it is ready and

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