Lebanon Delays Search for New Prime Minister

The office of Lebanese President Michel Aoun has issued a statement saying further efforts to name a new prime minister in the wake of caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri’s resignation over massive anti-government protests have now been delayed until Thursday. Consultations on the matter had been scheduled for Monday. The statement said Hariri had asked for the delay. There have been numerous reports that Aoun is putting pressure on him to head a new government although Hariri is not entirely interested, or interested at all. Beirut on Sunday saw the second straight night of violent protests between police and demonstrators agitating for better governance, particularly in state finance, and less corruption and sectarianism. The protests began in mid-October and generally have been peaceful, save for occasional confrontations between demonstrators and Shi’ite supporters of Hizbullah and Amal, two parties that want to see Lebanon’s status quo maintained.