Hariri's Supporters Rally across Lebanon to Celebrate Nomination

Supporters of al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri took to the streets across Lebanon after his appointment as Prime Miniser-designate on Thursday, waving Lebanese flags and huge sky-blue flags bearing his portrait, as fireworks lit up the sky over the capital Beirut and several regions.

Hariri's stronghold in Beirut's Tariq al-Jedideh district was witnessing huge popular rallies and supporters were carrying Lebanese flags, Mustaqbal flags and pictures of Hariri and his father, slain ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

Fireworks and celebratory gunfire accompanied the celebrations as residents danced in the streets and distributed sweets to passersby.

Dozens of supporters also roamed Tariq al-Jedideh's streets on motorcycles, carrying Mustaqbal flags.

A central celebration was scheduled for 8:30 pm at the district's al-Dana Square.

In the north, the city of Tripoli, Lebanon's second city, was witnessing motorized rallies waiving pictures of Hariri and Mustaqbal flags as celebratory fireworks was echoing across the city.

Similar celebrations were also being held in the northern region of Akkar, the southern city of Sidon and the southern border town of Shebaa.

Hariri's nomination and the election of Michel Aoun as president after a two-year vacuum have raised hopes that Lebanon can begin tackling challenges including a stagnant economy, a moribund political class and the influx of more than a million Syrian refugees.

It is also something of a comeback for Hariri, a Western-backed Sunni politician who had been left in the political cold in recent years.

Experts have cautioned that he may be hamstrung from the start because of ongoing divisions in the country's complex political scene.

But he sounded an optimistic, if solemn, tone on Thursday after accepting his nomination. 

"It is a new term," Hariri told journalists at the Baabda presidential palace.

He said he hoped "to form a government quickly, that will work on an electoral law that secures just representation and oversees the completion of the parliamentary elections on schedule."

Hariri, 46, served as prime minister under former president Michel Sleiman between 2009 and 2011, heading a unity government that was brought down by Hizbullah and its allies.

The toppling of Hariri's government sparked days of violent protests across the country.

The process of forming a government could take months, with horsetrading likely to revolve around the distribution of key posts like the interior, defense and energy ministries.

Despite the uphill battle ahead, Lebanese are hoping the breakthrough in their country's lengthy political stalemate will revitalize the economy and solve problems like a trash collection crisis.