Lebanon president asks Hariri to form new cabinet

By Nadim Ladki

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman appointed Saad al-Hariri as prime minister-designate on Saturday, charging him with the tough task of forming a new government that would turn the page on four years of turmoil.

Suleiman issued a presidential decree designating Sunni Muslim Hariri after 86 parliamentarians in the 128-seat assembly nominated him for the post.

Hariri, who is backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia, led a political coalition to victory against Iranian-backed Hezbollah and its allies in this month's election. He is the son of statesman Rafik al-Hariri whose assassination in 2005 plunged Lebanon into the worst crisis since the 1975-1990 civil war.

Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system reserves the premiership for a Sunni.

In a sign of the difficulties the 39-year-old leader faces in forming a cabinet acceptable to all sides, Hezbollah and its Christian allies refrained from nominating him.

Only 15 out of the minority alliance's 57 deputies backed him in two days of consultations with Suleiman, adding to support from Hariri's 71 deputies .

The main stumbling block facing Hariri is likely to be demands by Hezbollah and its allies that they hold veto power in a new unity government. Hariri rejects such a veto but will seek to get the minority to participate in the government.

Hariri has been keen on securing the backing of his powerful Shi'ite rivals, who are close allies of neighbouring Syria, to ensure a smooth launch for his administration.