U.N. Urges Lebanese Leaders to Break Impasse

U.N. Urges Lebanese Leaders to Break Impasse

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed regret Thursday that three months after elections Lebanon”s political parties are still unable to find agreement on a unity government.

"The Secretary-General regrets that at the moment it has proven impossible to form a new government in Lebanon," U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe said.

"He hopes that the consultations that President Michel Suleiman will hold with all parties will be successful and that the Lebanese continue working towards the goal of a unity government."

Prime minister-designate Saad Hariri announced Thursday that he was giving up trying to form a national unity government, accusing the opposition of blocking his efforts.