A leading international human rights group on Thursday said a Lebanon-led probe into the devastating port explosion in Beirut this summer has been marred by political meddling and lack of judicial independence, resulting in failure to yield credible results two months later.

Human Rights Watch called for a United Nations-led inquiry into the causes of the blast to determine responsibility. The New York-based rights watchdog called on international supporters of Lebanon, led by France, meeting next week to press the Lebanese authorities to accept an independent probe.

Three-time Lebanese prime minister Saad Hariri was renamed to the post Thursday to create a reform-orientated cabinet that can lift the country out of its worst economic crisis in decades.

Hariri, 50, made his comeback to take on the difficult task almost a year after stepping down under pressure from an unprecedented protest movement demanding a complete overhaul of Lebanon's political system.

Saad Hariri, who was renamed Lebanon's premier Thursday, is a businessman who was propelled into politics by his billionaire father's assassination.

Lebanon's president asked former premier Saad Hariri to form the country's next government Thursday after he secured enough votes from lawmakers - bringing back an old name to lead the country out of its dire political and economic crises.

Hariri resigned from the post a year ago amid nationwide protests by a public angered by widespread corruption, mismanagement of resources and a flunking economy. In the year since, Lebanon's currency sank, losing nearly 80% of its value, while prices, unemployment and inflation soared. Lebanese have been unable to access their savings, as banks imposed informal capital controls fearing a run on deposits.

Lebanon begins its binding parliamentary consultations on Thursday to name a new prime minister for the crisis-hit country, nearly a month after the previous appointee failed to form a government.

The stances of some parliamentary blocs and independent MPs on the nomination of ex-PM Saad Hariri for the premier post became known on Wednesday evening.

According to information obtained by LBCI TV, Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc has decided “not to name anyone” in Thursday's binding parliamentary consultations that will be held at the Baabda Palace to designate a new premier.

Rival demos were staged Wednesday evening in downtown Beirut on the eve of the binding parliamentary consultations to pick a new premier.

As anti-government protesters marched from an area near parliament towards the Center House -- ex-PM Saad Hariri’s residence -- in rejection of his expected return as premier, backers of al-Mustaqbal Movement staged a rival demo in the area in his support.

Three Iran-backed paramilitary fighters were killed in an overnight Israeli strike that hit Syria's southern province of Quneitra, a war monitor said Wednesday.

The three were from the Syrian Resistance to Liberate the Golan, a group linked to Lebanon's Hizbullah, said Rami Abdul Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The Lebanese Army on Wednesday received a quantity of ammunition donated by Turkey.

The shipment, containing ammunition of various calibers, was delivered at a ceremony that was held at the army’s Equipment Directorate, in the presence of the army’s equipment chief Brig. Gen. Ziad Nasr, who represented the army commander, Turkish Ambassador Hakan Cakil and a number of officers.

A new quantity of hazardously stored fuel was confiscated Wednesday in the Beirut area of Tariq al-Jedideh.

“At the instructions of Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud, the Beirut fire and guard brigades raided a depot in the al-Fakhani neighborhood in Tariq al-Jedideh,” said a statement issued by Beirut Municipality’s Public Relations Department.