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Special Reports: World and Regional News

Issue at a Glance

  • Since independence from France, Lebanon’s government has been shared by Christian, Shi’ite and Sunni Muslims according to a 1943 formula that accorded majority power to Christians.  This formula has remained in place, failing to reflect changing demographics:  the president would be Christian; the prime minister, Sunni Muslim; and the head of parliament, Shi’ite.  All religions would have positions in parliament, ranked by the size of religious communities.
  • Struggles for power within Lebanon also reflect wider struggles between Lebanon and Israel, Syria, and Iran.
  • Syria has vacillated vis-à-vis Lebanon, reflecting its dual fears that Lebanon could emerge either as a Christian state that would side with Israel, or a radical Islamic state.
  • In 2005, former Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri was assassinated.  A U.N. Tribunal, as of early 2011, looked ready to accuse the Syrian-backed Hezbollah group.  Hezbollah-backed parties resigned from government, forcing its collapse.
  • President Michel Slieman has named Syrian/Iranian favorite, Najib Mikati, as prime minister.

View the timeline of major historical events

VOA reports

Visitors enter to pay their respect at the grave of Lebanon's assassinated former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, in downtown Beirut, June 30, 2011

Lebanon Hariri Tribunal Widens Probe

Tribunal investigating whether attacks on three other politicians are linked to Hariri's assassination

Visitors enter to pay their respect at the grave of Lebanon's assassinated former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, in downtown Beirut, June 30, 2011 (file photo)

Lebanon Tribunal Unseals Indictment in Hariri Probe

UN-backed court releases indictment against four Hezbollah members who prosecutors say carried out attack

Visitors enter to pay their respect at the grave of Lebanon's assassinated former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, in downtown Beirut June 30, 2011

Lebanon Tribunal Urges Hariri Murder Suspects to Appear

Judge says it may be possible for suspects to appear by video, but they should appoint lawyers

Visitors enter to pay their respect at the grave of Lebanon's assassinated former prime minister Rafik al-Hariri, in downtown Beirut (file photo)

Lebanon Tribunal Names 4 Suspects in Hariri Murder

The four are members of Lebanon-based Hezbollah militant group, which denied involvement in killing

A Lebanese red cross worker, left, takes an injured French U.N. peacekeeper into an ambulance after a bomb explosion targeted a convoy of French soldiers in the southern port city of Sidon, July 26, 2011

Bomb in South Lebanon Wounds 5 UN Peacekeepers

Roadside blast hits UN patrol of French peacekeepers on highway at Sidon

Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (file photo)

Lebanon's Former PM Critical of Handling of Hariri Probe

Saad Hariri says if his government were still in power, it would have made efforts to search for Hezbollah suspects

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (file photo)

UN Urges Lebanon to Cooperate With Hariri Murder Investigation

Ban Ki-moon calls on all states to support work of joint international, Lebanese court based in The Hague

Lebanese women pass by a giant portrait of slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri near his grave in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, June 30, 2011.

Rafik Hariri's Legacy Continues in Lebanon

Former prime minister was considered a powerful political force before his death in a truck bombing in 2005

Lebanese women pass by a giant portrait of slain Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri near his grave, in downtown Beirut, June 30, 2011

UN Lebanon Tribunal Indicts 4 in Hariri Assassination

In televised speech, Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati asks for calm in what he calls 'sensitive time' for country

New Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati, speaks after the announcing of the new cabinet, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, June 13, 2011

Lebanon Forms New Government, One Member Abruptly Resigns

A government official announces the new Cabinet led by Prime Minister Najib Mikati

Protesters with pieces of bread shout slogans during a demonstration to show their solidarity with the protesters in Daraa, in the Syrian port city of Banias, May 3, 2011

Analysts: Fallout of Syrian Violence Ripples in Lebanon

Syria's influence is perhaps felt strongest in Lebanon, but Beirut has been notably silent

A woman shouts slogans as protesters behind her carry a banner condemning Lebanon's current sectarian system of government, Beirut, February 27, 2011

Hundreds Protest Lebanon's Sectarian Government System

Demonstrators carry signs and chant slogans calling for creation of regime not based on religious quotas

Overview of the courtroom of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in The Hague, which is investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri Netherlands, January 14, 2011

UN-Backed Tribunal for Lebanon Sets Rules

Tribunal follows Lebanese legal procedures; but presiding judge rules that court would apply broader interpretation of terrorism law

Overview of the courtroom of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) in The Hague, which is investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri Netherlands, January 14, 2011

Hariri Tribunal Begins Procedural Hearing Ahead of Trial

UN-backed tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese PM begins a hearing to define act of terror

Middle Eastern students living at New York's International House are closely following the developments in Egypt.

Mideast Students in US Riveted by Egypt Revolt

Both Arab and Israeli students feel a vested interest in outcome

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati

New Lebanese Prime Minister Unlikely to Alter Policy

But, questions remain about composition of Mr. Mikati’s Cabinet, whether it will deviate from previous government's pro-Western policies

Lebanon’s Economic Path Likely to Remain Unchanged in New Government

Economists say country appears on track to maintain open-market economic policies

403 Forbidden: Silencing Online Dissent in the Middle East

Despite the threat of Tunisia-style change, many Middle Eastern countries, continue to restrict online freedom of speech

Lebanese Prime Minister designate Najib Mikati

Lebanon's Hariri Asks Hezbollah-Backed PM to Clarify UN Tribunal Stance

Outgoing PM's movement asks new PM to clarify stance on U.N. tribunal investigating death of Mr. Hariri's father

Hezbollah-Backed PM Starts Forming New Lebanon Government

US reconsidering economic, military support for Lebanon after Hezbollah wins prominent role in government

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks to the media at the State Department in Washington, 25 Jan 2011

Clinton Wary of Hezbollah-Controlled Lebanon

Secretary of state says emergence of Hezbollah-controlled government would clearly have impact on US-Lebanese relations

Lebanese Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati speaks during a press conference at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, 25 Jan 2011

Lebanese Sunnis React With Anger Over New PM

President asks Hezbollah-backed Najib Mikati to form new government, after he won majority of lawmakers' votes

Lebanese MP and former PM Najib Mikati smiles as he delivers a news conference after meeting Lebanon's President Michel Suleiman at the presidential palace in Baabda, near Beirut.

Opposition Candidate Poised to be Next Lebanese PM

Businessman Najib Mikati is poised to become the next head of Lebanon's government

Angry Sunni protesters react as they hold posters showing the slain former prime minister Rafik Hariri, and his son Saad Hariri, who they support, in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, 24 Jan 2011

US: Hezbollah Dominance in Lebanon Would be 'Problematic'

Hezbollah has long been on US State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations, and its rise could imperil US aid for Lebanon

Hezbollah Leader: Opposition Will Be Ready for Parliamentary Consultations Monday

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Sunday his group does not want to exclude any political party

Lebanese Druse leader Walid Jumblatt speaks during a press conference at his house in Beirut, Lebanon, Jan. 21, 2011

Lebanon Ponders its Political Future

Everything hinges on whether Druse leader Walid Jumblatt will be able to deliver Hezbollah-led opposition enough parliament deputies

Lebanese Political Leader Keeps Crisis in Limbo

Druse leader Walid Jumblatt stands to be the kingmaker of the next Lebanese government

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri speaks during a press conference with a poster of his slain father Rafik Hariri in the background, in Beirut,  Jan. 20, 2011

Hariri Seeks Lebanese Prime Minister's Office Again

Saad Hariri confirms he will stand for prime minister again, despite calls from opposition for a different head of government

Lebanon's Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan speaks with Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad,  during their meeting in Beirut, 19 Jan 2011

Turkish, Qatari Ministers Suspend Mediation Efforts in Lebanon

Officials say because of some reservations to proposal, they have decided to halt their efforts, consult leadership

Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri, center, meets in Beirut with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabr Al-Thani, (l), and Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu (r), Jan

Qatar, Turkey Try to Mediate Lebanon Political Crisis

Earlier Saudi Arabia had abandoned mediation efforts in Lebanon

Court prosecutor Daniel Bellemare of Canada looks on during an opening ceremony of an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Leidschendam, Netherlands (File Photo).

Lebanon Tribunal Prosecutor Speaks on Indictments

UN tribunal chief, who is investigating murder of former PM Hariri, says indictment he filed is first step to ending impunity in Lebanon

Court prosecutor Daniel Bellemare of Canada looks on during an opening ceremony of an international tribunal to prosecute suspects in the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Leidschendam, Netherlands (File Photo).

Hariri Tribunal Prosecutor Submits Indictments

Document is sealed and no suspects have been identified

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on a screen at a cafe in Lebanon

Hezbollah Chief Calls for New Leadership in Lebanon

He accuses US, Israel and international tribunal of trying to destabilize Lebanon

Map of Lebanon

Mideast Leaders to Discuss Lebanese Political Crisis

Leaders of Syria, Turkey and Qatar to gather in Damascus to discuss the political turmoil in Lebanon

Hisham Youssef, Chief of Staff for the Secretary General of the League of Arab States Amr Moussa, 27 Jan 2008

Arab League Calls Lebanese Crisis ‘Serious’

Foreign ministers to meet next week to discuss Arab League’s role in resolving political crisis in Lebanon

From left: Lebanese Ministers Ali Abdallah, Mohammed Fneish, Abraham Dedeyan, Hussein Hajj Hassan, Jibran Bassil, Mohammed Jawad Khalife, Fady Abboud, Charbel Nahhas, Youssef Saade and Ali Shami hold a press conference to announce their resignation in the

Lebanon Political Parties Gridlocked

There are deep divisions over the U.N.-backed court investigating the 2005 assassination of Prime Minister Rafik Hariri