Lebanon’s PM-designate Saad Hariri steps down

BEIRUT: Lebanon’s prime minister-designate Saad Hariri stepped down on Thursday, saying he was unable to form a government, nine months after accepting the challenge and as the country sinks deeper into crisis. Hariri had been nominated for the post in October 2020, following a devastating explosion at Beirut port that killed more than 200 people and forced the previous government to resign.

“I met with the president, and we had (a) consultation on the issue of the government,” Hariri said on Thursday, referring to President Michel Aoun.