Lebanon's Hariri's party won't take part in next gov't

CAIRO – 19 December 2019: Sources close to Lebanon's Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Lebanese media told Reuters on Thursday, December 10, 2019, that Hariri's Future Movement will not be participating in the next government.

Hariri said Wednesday he would not seek to stay on as prime minister.

In October, Hariri submitted his resignation following nearly two weeks of unprecedented protests demanding political change.

Hariri said he would submit his government's resignation to President Michel Aoun in response to the protests, saying his administration had "reached a dead end".

"I have strived to meet their demand for a government of experts, which I saw as the only option to address the serious social and economic crisis our country faces," Hariri said.

"I announce I will not be a candidate to form the next government," he said in a statement.

Sources further added that a candidate backed by Shi'ite Hezbollah and its allies looked set to be designated for the post.