Miqati annouces new government
Lebanon, Politics, 4/19/2005

Lebanese prime minister Najib Miqati started on Monday his parliamentary consultations with the aim to form a new government presumed to have a basic mission to supervise the elections due to be held next month.

The talks were resumed at the headquarters of Lebanese parliament in a meeting with its speaker Nabih Berri while the opposition (40 parliamentarians ) held a meeting before the consultations at the headquarters of the parliament in order to discuss their position during the consultation but it is not known whether they will be taking part in it by a united delegation or by separate blocs or individual parliamentarians, according to set schedules.

Those parliamentarians took part in the obligatory presidential consultations to form the government by a united delegation which nominated Miqati.

While "Beirut's decision" which is the bloc of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri "initially" supported this inclination, the patron of the Christian opposition the Maronite Patriarch Nasrullah Sfeir on Monday renewed his cling to a government of that sort.

For his part, the Druze leader, parliamentarian Walid Junblat stressed he is with the participation of the opposition in the government. A matter which was also advocated by the opposition former army general Michael Aoun.

He had said in press statements he said he waits hearing views of any side concerned. he added " my desire is a mini government without members of parties, who have the experience especially in making the parliamentary elections as soon as possible." He indicated that the consultations he had started on Saturday by meeting with former Lebanese prime ministers and continued on Monday by meeting with parliamentarians, will also include economic and labor commissions. A tradition which was not made by earlier designated prime ministers in Lebanon.

Today, Sawt Lebnan Radio reported that Miqati announced a new government composed of 14 ministers with the main focus to be on the making of parliamentary elections. The new government members will not nominate themselves to the elections, and will work to replace the security department heads. Elias al-Mur was selected minister of defense; Mahmoud Hammoud as foreign minister; Hasan al-Sabe' as minister of interior.

Previous Stories:
  Miqati's consultations to form a Lebanese government   (4/18/2005)
  Convergence between Lebanese government supporters and opposition   (4/18/2005)
  Junblat meets Aoun, calls on opposition to take part in new government   (4/16/2005)

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