Lebanon's Hariri may be named PM but faces struggle to form government

Saad al-Haririis expected to benamedLebanon'sprime minister on Monday, but political rifts look set to hinder agreement on a newgovernmentbadly needed to rescue the country from a dire economic crisis.

Hariri, a Western ally and the leading Sunni Muslim politician, is widely seen by politicians as the only candidate for the post. He quit the job in late October under pressure from protests against the political elite that has overseen decades of corruption and bad governance.

But he is at odds with Iran-backed Shi'ite Muslim Hezbollah movement and its allies, including President Michel Aoun, over the make-up of the nextgovernment.

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Lebanon needs a newgovernmentto pull it out of the worst economic crisis since its 1975-1990 civil war. Foreign donors will only help after there is a cabinet that can enact reforms.

Haririwants to lead a cabinet of specialist ministers which he says would be able to tackle the crisis and attract foreign aid, while his opponents want a combination of politicians and experts.

Aoun'sformal consultations with lawmakers to designate the premier, postponed from last week, are scheduled to take place on Monday despite the dispute.

"It should be clear to anyone who might nominateHariritomorrow that he will onlyformagovernmentof specialists," a source close toHariritold Reuters.

Aoun is required to choose the candidate with the greatest support among parliament's 128 lawmakers.

Though it was not immediately clear how many lawmakers would backHariri, political sources said he would most likely be picked, barring any last-minute surprise inLebanon'svolatile politics.

Attempts to reach compromise deals on other candidates for the job of prime minister reserved for a Sunni inLebanon'ssectarian power-sharing system - have failed.

Hundreds of people protesting against the ruling elite returned to central Beirut on Sunday, despite a fierce crackdown by security forces near parliament the previous night. The security forces had fired tear gas and rubber bullets overnight at demonstrators in clashes that wounded dozens.