BEIRUT - Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his hands were \"extended to everyone\", in a gesture to the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group that accused opponents of seeking to exclude it by nominating him for the post.

Lebanon now has a new government in waiting for the first time in two years after Nawaf Salam was nominated for prime minister.

Nawaf Salam, the head of the International Court of Justice, won enough support to become Lebanon's next prime minister after a majority of lawmakers backed him for the post on Monday, a big blow to Hezbollah which accused opponents of working to exclude it.