The United States said Monday that it would be difficult to support a Lebanese government led by Hizbullah. In the wake of word that Hizbullah-backed businessman Najib Mikati was being considered as a candidate to form the next government, State Department Spokesman P. J. Crowley said, "We’ll wait to see what the government looks like, who is involved in that government, and what the policies of that government will be, and we’ll evaluate what the impact on our relationship will be." He continued, "All I’m saying, which is obvious, is that we have great concerns about Hezbollah. We see it as a terrorist organization. And the larger the role played by Hezbollah in this government, the more problematic it is for the relationship between the United States and Lebanon."
Lebanese President Michel Sleiman started consultations on Monday for forming the new government.