The top judge at the International Court of Justice Nawaf Salam has been designated Lebanon’s next prime minister in a surprising turnaround for the crisis-ridden country.

Nawaf Salam, the president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, has been named as Lebanon's new prime minister. Two thirds of the 128 members of parliament nominated the 71-year-old judge for the post - reserved for a Sunni Muslim under a sectarian power sharing system - during consultations with newly elected President Joseph Aoun.

Nawaf Salam, who has been designated as the new Prime Minister of Lebanon, has resigned as a member of the International Court of Justice, said the ICJ on Tuesday.

Lebanon’s new president has asked prominent diplomat and jurist Nawaf Salam to form the country’s new government after Salam was named prime minister by a large number of legislators

Choice of UN court's Nawaf Salam underlines major power shift among sectarian factions in Beirut since Iran-backed Shiite group was pummeled by Israel, lost sponsor in Syria

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun appoints Nawaf Salam, head of the International Court of Justice, as Prime Minister. Hezbollah does not endorse any candidate.

Nawaf Salam, the head of the International Court of Justice, was named Monday as Lebanon's new Prime Minister after he won the support of 84 parliamentarians in another blow to the once powerful Hezbollah.

Lebanon’s new president names head of the International Court of Justice as the country’s new prime minister. View on euronews