Lebanon Marks 73rd Independence Day
Lebanon celebrated Independence Day on Tuesday with several challenges facing the country, including lining-up a new cabinet after the recent election of President Michel Aoun which ended a two-year power vacuum at the post.
The country marked 73 years of independence with an official ceremony that was be staged at Shafiq al-Wazzan Boulevard in Downtown Beirut.
President Aoun, Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, Caretaker PM Tammam Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri headed the officials who attended the ceremony marking the country's independence.
Two Prime Ministers, Hariri and Salam, sat side by side at the ceremony after strenuous efforts to form a new cabinet before Independence Day failed.
During the Independence Day parade, hundreds of red, white and green balloons were launched skywards after military helicopters overflew marching soldiers.
Aoun, Berri, Hariri and Salam later headed to Baabda palace where they received well-wishers.
After the election of ex-army chief Aoun on October 31, Hariri was designated to form a government but the formation is witnessing some delay amid wrangling over the distribution of ministerial portfolios.
Lebanese Independence Day commemorates the country's liberation in 1943 after 23 years of governance by French Mandate that succeeded Ottoman rule.
Source: Naharnet
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