Beirut appoints Syrian nominee for ambassador to Lebanon

Lebanon's President Michel Sleiman approved the nomination of Ali Abdel Karim Ali as Syria's first ambassador to Beirut as the two countries formally establish diplomatic ties. Lebanon's ambassador to Damascus was named at the start of the year.Lebanon approved on Tuesday Syria's nominee for its first ambassador to Beirut, five months after the two neighbours established diplomatic ties for the first time, an official said."President Michel Sleiman on Tuesday approved the nomination of Ali Abdel Karim Ali as the Syrian Arab Republic's ambassador to Beirut," the official in the president's office said.Lebanon's ambassador to Damascus, career diplomat Michel el-Khoury, was named at the start of the year and an embassy was opened in the Syrian capital earlier this month.After several years of strained relations, Lebanon and its former powerbroker agreed to establish diplomatic ties in October for the first time since their independence 60 years ago.Syria pulled out its troops from Lebanon after almost 30 years of political and military domination in April 2005 following the assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafiq Hariri.