Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri has convinced Lebanon’s opposition to join a national unity government that would complete a task he has struggled to accomplish since his coalition won general elections in June.

A statement on the new government is expected over the weekend after Hezbollah said its alliance of opposition parties had late on Friday agreed to the latest distribution of portfolios proposed by Hariri.

"We hope that this step will be beneficial for Lebanon and its people," Hezbollah said in a statement.

The political standoff was broken after Hariri reportedly conceded key cabinet posts to the Hezbollah-led opposition, including the sensitive telecommunications ministry previously held by the son-in-law of Christian leader Michel Aoun.

'Cautious optimism' in Lebanon - France 24's Lucy Fielder in Beirut

Incumbents Ziad Baroud and Michel al-Murr, loyal to the president, are set to keep their interior and defence portfolios, while new foreign and finance ministers are expected to be named.

The stalemate between rival camps also softened after Syria and Saudi Arabia’s conciliation over Lebanon. Last month the two regional backers urged jointly for the formation of a cabinet in Beirut.

Hariri’s anti-Syrian coalition is backed by the United States and Saudi Arabia. Hezbollah heads an alliance of parties, including Aoun’s Free Patriotic Movement, supported by Syria and Iran.

End to political stalemate?

The cabinet has not met since the June 7 election. It is an acting government only and cannot make administrative appointments or decisions.

Western countries, as well as the United Nations, had voiced concerns over the deadlock in Lebanon, which they feared could affect the country's economy and lead to a security breakdown.

According to FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Beirut, the agreement is widely expected to go through, but people are cautiously optimistic after the prolonged political crisis that has rocked Lebanon.

A political crisis erupted in 2006 when all Shiite cabinet ministers resigned. It climaxed on May 7, 2008 when more than 100 people were killed in sectarian fighting in the worst bloodshed since Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.

A Qatari-brokered deal in 2008 led to the formation of a national unity government in which Hezbollah and its allies had veto power over key decisions.