WORLD NEWS

Lebanon's new President Michal Sleiman began consultations on forming a government of national unity after the parliamentary majority chose Fuad Siniora to reassume the post of premier. Sleiman met members of the various blocs in parliament and was set to formally appoint Siniora to head a 30-member cabinet of national unity in which the Hezbollah-led opposition will have veto power over key decisions. Formation of a unity government is a key plank of a deal hammered out by rival factions last week to end an 18-month political crisis that threatened to plunge the nation back into civil war. Lebanon's parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri -- also tipped as a possible Prime Minister -- said his bloc had decided to nominate Siniora again as he was the best man for the job. The opposition, however, made clear that it was not satisfied with the choice of Siniora, saying he did not reflect the spirit of national unity called for in last week's Arab-brokered accord reached in Doha.