BEIRUT: Lebanese prime minister-designate Saad Hariri was preparing to announce a new government today after granting concessions to his rivals in the Hezbollah-led opposition on key cabinet posts.

A statement on the new government was expected within 48 hours, officials from both camps said, after the Shiite Hezbollah and its allies agreed to Hariri’s latest government line-up.

Hezbollah, which heads an alliance of parties supported by Syria and Iran, said in a statement that opposition leaders met late on Friday and agreed to the latest distribution of portfolios proposed by Hariri. “Those who took part in the meeting agreed to join a national unity government based on the agreements reached during negotiations,” the statement said. “We hope that this step will be beneficial for Lebanon and its people.” Hariri’s spokesman Hani Hammoud told AFP that opposition member and outgoing telecommunications minister Gibran Bassil officially informed Hariri of the opposition’s stand today.

“The two held a very positive meeting and we are optimistic that the government line-up will be announced soon,” Hammoud said.

The new 30-member cabinet is set to include 15 ministers from Hariri’s coalition and 10 from the opposition. The remaining five posts will be nominated by President Michel Sleiman.

Hariri was tasked with forming a government after his Western- and Saudi-backed coalition won a June 7 general election.

However, since then he has struggled to bridge differences between his own bloc and the opposition.

Among the major points of contention were demands by Christian leader Michel Aoun, an ally of Hezbollah whose Free Patriotic Movement has more seats in parliament than any other Christian party. Aoun had insisted on retaining the sensitive telecommunications ministry headed by Bassil, his son-in-law. Hariri initially rejected that demand but finally agreed. It was unclear today, however, whether Bassil would be reappointed to the post.

Aoun’s party was also expected to be given the energy, industry and tourism ministries, while Hezbollah would get two cabinet posts.