Lebanon’s top minister steps down

BEIRUT, Lebanon – Lebanon’s U.S.-backed prime minister-designate abruptly quit Thursday, plunging the nation deeper into a political crisis over failed efforts to form a government.

Saad Hariri, whose coalition of political parties trounced a Hezbollah-backed alliance in June 7 elections, announced that he was stepping down from his post after failing to form a Cabinet.

He blamed the Syrian- and Iranian-backed opposition for making unreasonable demands.

“After a final round of negotiations, it became clear to me that some, with their impossible demands, are in no way going to allow the proposed Cabinet lineup to pass,” Hariri, leader of Lebanon’s Sunni Muslim community, said in a televised statement after meeting with President Michel Suleiman.

Suleiman, a Christian, must now designate a new prime minister.