Lebanon to hold confidence vote in cabinet

Lebanon's parliament is set to hold a confidence vote in the new national unity government following a heated debate centred largely on the thorny issue of Hezbollah weapons.

Lebanon's parliament is set to hold a confidence vote on Tuesday in the new national unity government following a heated debate centred largely on the thorny issue of Hezbollah weapons.

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MPs from rival factions have been locking horns during days of debate over the arsenal of the Shiite militant movement Hezbollah, which insists on the right to resist Israel.

The vote will allow the 30-member cabinet to start work and follows the government's adoption of a manifesto which also insists on "the right of Lebanon, its people, its army and its resistance to liberate its land."

Parliament speaker Nabih Berri said Tuesday's vote in the 128-seat parliament will follow final comments by MPs on the government policy statement and an address by Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.