Hezbollah leader: Hariri should not return as PM

BEIRUT: The leader of Lebanon's Shiite militant group Hezbollah says Saad Hariri should not return as prime minister.

Sheik Hassan Nasrallah made his first public comments today since ministers from his movement and their allies resigned from the Cabinet on Wednesday, toppling Hariri's Western-backed government.

Hariri is staying on as caretaker prime minister, but his future is unclear.

The crisis in Lebanon is the climax of long-simmering tensions over the UN tribunal investigating the 2005 assassination of Hariri's father, former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

The court is expected to indict members of Hezbollah, which many fear could cause civil strife.

Hariri had refused Hezbollah's demands to cease cooperation with the court.

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