BEIRUT - Nagib Miqati, a moderate named Lebanon's prime minister with backing from both pro-Syrian and opposition figures, began talks Saturday to form a cabinet amid rising hopes for prompt elections.

His appointment Friday came after his pro-Syrian predecessor Omar Karameh resigned twice in six weeks, leaving the country without a government as it confronted its deepest political crisis since the end of the 1975-1990 war.

The international community voiced hope that the naming of Miqati, a wealthy telecommunications businessman and former minister of public works, would ensure that legislative elections are held as planned by the end of May.

US President George W. Bush also issued a stern reminder to Syria, the main powerbroker in Lebanon for almost three decades, to complete its troop pullout from the country before the elections.

"When I say, get out of Lebanon, I mean out of Lebanon with all your troops and all your security services and all the people trying to influence that government. It is in the world's interest that Lebanon be allowed to have free
elections, because a free society will help spread the peace," he said.

The European Union said it hoped a new cabinet would be formed "at an early date... and urges the Lebanese authorities to proceed without delay to free, fair and transparent elections on schedule."

Lebanon has been without a government since Karameh resigned at the end of February under the weight of huge protests sparked by the assassination of his predecessor Rafiq Hariri in a massive Beirut bomb blast.

In the upheaval that followed Hariri's killing on February 14, the international community succeeded in pushing Syria to promise an end to its 29-year military presence in Lebanon by April 30, although it remains a powerful political influence.

Miqati, a family friend of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was meeting with former prime ministers on Saturday and was due to start parliamentary consultations on Monday, facing an end-April deadline to call elections.

"I come with an open hand and an open heart so that we can all cooperate in the interests of Lebanon," the 49-year-old Sunni Muslim said after his selection.

"We are facing a new period... a return to democracy," he said, pledging to be a "symbol of moderation and national unity."

He told top-selling An-Nahar newspaper he intended to form a "restricted government that could hold elections as soon as possible" and would sack security service chiefs before a UN commission arrives to probe Hariri's
murder.

Lebanon's opposition, which found a powerful new voice after the killing of Hariri, blamed the attack on the pro-Syrian regime and its political masters in Damascus and had been demanding the sacking of top security officials.

Miqati was chosen over Damascus protege President Emile Lahoud's candidate, outgoing Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Mrad, amid signs of cracks among loyalists allied to Syria.

The opposition, which expects to win the elections and had warned of more mass street protests if a government was not formed soon, decided to back Miqati after he pledged to meet some of their demands and despite his links to Syria.

"The important thing is that he keeps the promises he made," opposition MP Nayla Moawad told AFP.

"We have undoubtedly entered the era of the settlement of the crisis. There is a danger of instability... which prompted us to chose a prime minister who is close to all parties, including the Syrian leadership and doctor Bashar
al-Assad."

Hariri's sister, MP Bahia Hariri, even met with Lahoud for the first time since her brother's killing to back Miqati's nomination.

"We were facing two things: either to enter constitutional vaccum or offer a comprise, and this is what the opposition chose," she told AFP.

In further signs of reconciliation, Druze overlord Walid Jumblatt met for the first time in Paris on Friday with his former wartime archfoe, exiled Christian leader Michel Aoun.

Aoun, who plans to return home next month, told As-Safir he had agreed with Jumblatt to join the next government.

Jumblatt also told a French newspaper that it was time for Lebanon to abandon its confessional system of government in favour of a secular system.

"A confessional regime cannot result in true democracy," he told Saturday's edition of La Depeche du Midi.

Under the current system, the Lebanese presidency is reserved for a Maronite, the prime minister's job for a Sunni Muslim and the national assembly presidency for a Shia Muslim.

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