Turkey on Wednesday urged all parties in Lebanon to refrain from violence after a Hezbollah- backed candidate was named to head a new government in the country, Xinhua reported.
"We call on all parties to refrain from violence, to act with common sense and within democratic legitimacy," Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a written statement.
It warned that an escalation in political tensions could harm the people of Lebanon and lead to instability and separation movements in the whole region.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Selcuk Unal told a press conference in Ankara on Wednesday that Turkey is closely monitoring developments in Lebanon and wishes the parties to reach a compromise on the government crisis through democratic means.
Hezbollah-backed business tycoon and lawmaker Najib Mikati on Tuesday was appointed by President Michel Suleiman as prime minister designate, after he won majority support in the parliament, defeating the West-backed caretaker Saad Hariri.
The move sparked protests in Tripoli, Saida, Beirut and other regions on Tuesday in response to Sunni parliament members' call on Monday as the "day of rage" to condemn Shiite group Hezbollah's "intervention in Sunni issues". They burned tyres and opened fire in the air.
Saad Hariri's coalition was toppled two weeks ago by Hezbollah over a standoff on his father's murder case.
Hezbollah has asked Saad Hariri to stop support for the UN- backed special tribunal set up to probe former prime minister Rafic Hariri's assassination in 2005, but was rejected. The tribunal is widely expected to indict members of the Shiite group.
Turkey and Qatar attempted to mediate in the political crisis in Lebanon last week, but failed to resolve after two days of talks with parties concerned.
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