Parliament bloc to renominate step-down Hariri as Lebanese PM-designate

The largest bloc of Lebanese parliament agreed on Monday to renominate Saad Hariri as prime minister-designate, the post he quitted last week, state media reported.

The "Lebanon First", a bloc that now holds 60 seats in the total 128, issued a statement on Monday in which they renominated Hariri as prime minister-designate and it will be consulted with Lebanese President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The statement hailed Hariri for his strong "efforts to form a national coalition government that were unfortunately confronted with a list of demands that hindered the democratic process."

Hariri stepped down as prime minister-designate last Thursday after his cabinet lineup proposal was rejected by the opposition, as the proposal did not meet the demands of the opposition.

Hariri was designated as prime minister on June 27, after his "March 14 Alliance" won the June 7 parliamentary elections over Hezbollah-dominant March 8 Alliance.