DAMASCUS - Observers of the Middle East scene who were banking on a gradual reduction of Hezbollah's influence in Lebanon were in for a big surprise on Monday. After five months of political bickering, Hezbollah got its way in the formation of a cabinet, headed by the parliamentary majority leader, Saad Hariri.
Those eager to write Hezbollah off from the political scene had their hopes raised in June, when the party and its allies failed to secure a majority in parliamentary elections. The Hezbollah-led opposition effectively maintained the status quo, winning 57 of the 128 seats in parliament.
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