Lebanon security officials reopened all roads and removed barriers across the country, after thousands of Sunnis poured into the streets to protest against the new prime minister chosen by Hizbullah and its allies. Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati is set to begin the process of forming a new cabinet and is scheduled to visit former premiers later Wednesday. Hizbullah and its allies ousted the Western-backed government two weeks ago by quitting the cabinet. Mikati, a billionaire businessman, has called for a unity government. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets across the country over the last two days, burning tires, throwing rocks and accusing Hizbullah of a coup d'etat. Security officials said Wednesday that army and police forces would prevent any road closures. They spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with regulations. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that a Hizbullah-dominated government in Lebanon would affect the country's relations with the United States, which regards Hizbullah as a terrorist group. The White House, meanwhile, accused the Shi'ite Muslim group of using "coercion, intimidation and threats of violence" to achieve its political goals and said the country's new government must abide by the Lebanese constitution and renounce violence. Hizbullah is on the official U.S. blacklist of terrorist groups, a designation that carries various financial and travel restrictions. "A Hizbullah-controlled government would clearly have an impact on our bilateral relationship with Lebanon," Clinton told reporters in an appearance with Spain's visiting foreign minister. "Our bottom lines remain as they always have been," Clinton said. "We believe that justice must be pursued and impunity for murder ended. We believe in Lebanon's sovereignty and an end to outside interference."
