BEIRUT, April 15: Lebanon’s president appointed moderate Syria ally Najib Mikati as prime minister-designate on Friday after the anti-Syrian opposition unexpectedly backed him to lead the country to a general election set for next month.

Mr Mikati won the nomination of the country’s 128-member parliament as a compromise candidate in a close race with outgoing Defence Minister Abdel Rahim Mrad, a staunch ally of Damascus.

Lebanon has been without a government since Feb 28. —Reuters