BEIRUT: The United States said Monday that it would judge the new Lebanese government “by its actions,” following the announcement of a 30-member Cabinet in which the Hezbollah-led March 8 alliance holds a majority of seats.

“We’ll judge it by its actions,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. “What’s important in our mind is that the new Lebanese government abides by the Lebanese Constitution, that it renounces violence, including efforts to exact retribution against former government officials, and lives up to all its international obligations.”
Toner urged the new government to support the U.N.-backed tribunal investigating the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a 2005 bombing. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon is widely expected to indict members of Hezbollah.

One of Hezbollah’s regional sponsors, Syrian President Bashar Assad, who’s facing a growing uprising against his rule, congratulated Lebanon on the formation of the new Cabinet Monday.
In a telephone call, the Syrian leader congratulated Lebanese President Michel Sleiman on the government’s formation, Sleiman’s office said in a statement.

Assad also congratulated Speaker Nabih Berri for “the important step that led to the government formation,” Berri’s press office said in a statement.
There were no immediate comments from Saudi Arabia or Qatar, two previous key mediators in Lebanon’s political crisis. But Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Osseiri paid Prime Minister Najib Mikati a visit to congratulate him.
Mikati also received French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton and United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams.

Echoing the U.S., Williams voiced hope that the new government would uphold Lebanon’s international obligations following a meeting with Mikati.
“Today’s formation of a new Council of Ministers, after months of consultations, is a very important development for Lebanon. A new government will enable the country to address the manifold challenges facing the country, whether economic, political or security,” Williams told reporters.

“In my discussion with Premier Mikati this afternoon, I expressed the expectation that his government will reiterate its support for the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 and its commitment to Lebanon’s international obligations,” he added.
Hezbollah had ousted former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, the son of the assassinated statesman, who refused to stop his government’s cooperation with the STL. The collapse of Hariri’s Cabinet was followed by Druze leader Walid Jumblatt’s realigning his party with Syria and Hezbollah, which gave the March 8 alliance the parliamentary majority it needed.