CAIRO, Jan. 31 (Xinhua) -- The Cairo-based Arab League (AL) welcomed on Thursday the formation of a new Lebanese government and expressed strong support for the new cabinet.
AL Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul-Gheit praised the efforts of Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri to form the new unity government after nine months of deadlock, according to AL spokesman Mahmoud Afifi.
"The AL secretary-general stressed the necessity for all parties to provide political and economic support for the new government in the light of the massive missions and responsibilities it will assume in the coming period," Afifi said in a statement.
The AL also highlighted the importance of supporting all constitutional institutions in Lebanon to maintain the national unity of the Lebanese people.
Earlier in the day, Lebanon announced the formation of a 30-member national unity government headed by Hariri and representing all main political parties.
The country has been struggling to form a government since Hariri was designated as prime minister last May following parliamentary elections, mainly because of the differences among parties, including Hariri's Future Movement and the Shiite party Hezbollah, over their representation in the new government.
