Lebanon's newly-appointed Prime Minister Najib Mikati vowed on Wednesday to maintain national unity, saying "I hope I can embody national unity."

Mikati made the pledge to reporters after President Emile Lahoud picked him as the premier after his consultations with members of parliament.

Mikati, 49, told reporters that he would start immediate talks to form a cabinet to oversee parliamentary elections in May and pull the country out of a deep political crisis.

"I come with an open hand and an open heart so that we can all cooperate in the interests of Lebanon," he said, adding "we are facing a new period... a return to democracy in the Lebanese regime."

Mikati, a wealthy businessman and a Sunni Muslim MP, was former public works minister with close ties to Syria.

Lebanon plunged into a political turbulence after the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on Feb. 14, which the opposition accused Syria and the pro-Damascus authorities of being responsible for.

Facing strong pressure from the opposition and the international community not to delay crucial May elections, Miqati's appointment may herald a possible end to a two-month political crisis in Lebanon.

The opposition has announced to back Mikati's nomination, saying they supported Mikati because he pledged to have parliamentary elections as scheduled in May and to remove pro-Syrian security chiefs.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2005)