Saad Hariri claims victory in Lebanon elections

PETER CAVE: An anti-Syrian alliance has laid claim to victory in elections in Lebanon, the first since Syrian troops withdrew. The elections have been hailed by the United States as "an important milestone in Lebanon's transformation." The country's future now rests in the hands of Saad Hariri, the son of the slain former Prime Minster, Rafik Hariri....Despite the good will on the streets, the new government will face a series of major challenges.Saad Hariri has won an eight-seat majority, but he must now set about reforming his country burdened by a 35-and-a-half billion-dollar debt and an economy in which inflation is outstripping economic growth...