Beirut - The veteran Lebanese politician, Mr Selim al Hoss, said yesterday President Emile Lahoud had named him as the country's new prime minister. Mr Hoss (68) said his new government would start by tackling Lebanon's huge budget deficit, currently 40 per cent of expenditure.
He replaces the construction tycoon, Mr Rafik al-Hariri, who stepped down on Monday after six years in office. Mr Hoss was prime minister several times during and after Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war. He last held office in 1990 and is well respected by the business community.