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.

Salam said he was against exclusion and on the contrary supported unity. "This is my sincere call, and my hands are extended to everyone," he said. (Reporting by Clauda Tanios and Laila Bassam; Writing by Tom Perry;

Lebanon's Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam said on Tuesday his hands are extended to everyone, in a gesture to the Iran-backed Hezbollah group that accused opponents of seeking to exclude it by nominating him for the post.

The head of an American organisation focused on hostage releases said on Monday he believes U.S. journalist Austin Tice was still being held in Syria by people loyal to toppled leader Bashar al-Assad.

Nawaf Salam, a seasoned diplomat and current ICJ president, has been appointed Lebanon's new prime minister. He faces a significant task of navigating the country through its ongoing economic crisis and political instability,