Lebanese leader forms cabinet

Lebanon's Prime minister-designate Fuad Siniora has announced a cabinet of 24 ministers, and the lineup for the first time includes a member of the Hizb Allah movement. The formation of the cabinet brings to an end almost three weeks of political upheaval by politicians over key posts and what shape the cabinet should take.Siniora's government, which was approved by President Emile Lahoud after three draft line-ups had been rejected, is the first since May-June elections gave opposition groups a majority in parliament for the first time since the civil war.

"We have reached agreement on a 24-member government," Siniora said after mandatory consultations on the cabinet with the head of state. The new cabinet did not include associates of Christian leader and former army general Michel Aoun, who returned to Lebanon after 14 years of exile in France.He had insisted on the justice portfolio but was refused, and as a result he has declined to join the government.

Aoun missed his chance on that one, but given the Byzantine nature of Leb politix it's probably not over yet.