Miqati convenes first meeting; two explosions in Beirut,
Lebanon, Politics, 4/21/2005

A Lebanese security source said that three persons including two Syrians were injured in a bomb explosion in the Cola area in the capital Beirut.

News reports said that a second explosion from a sound bomb blew up in al-Ma'moura area in the southern quarters of Beirut.

Politically, the Lebanese government held its first meeting chaired by the prime minister Najib Miqati, stressing that its first priorities is to arrange for quick elections and cooperation with the UN in the investigations to the assassination of the former prime minister Rafic Hariri, so as to start the process of solving a political crisis that lasted for two weeks.

Meantime, Ghassan Salameh, who was appointed as a minister of culture and education, apologized from taking part in the new government because of his university "obligations" in France.

Salameh, who teaches at the political studies institute in Paris, was absent from the meeting of the government on Wednesday, expressing his thanks and gratitude for Miqati over nominating him for this post.

Canada on Wednesday welcomed the formation of the new Lebanese government chaired by Miqati describing it as constituting "an important phase encouraging for ensuring fruitful atmosphere in Lebanon." The Canadian foreign minister said that his country has called recently for a plenary dialogue with all sides concerned in order to continue the march towards democracy.

Previous Stories:
  Bush: International community wants to help a free Lebanon   (4/20/2005)
  Nasrullah: Hizbullah will not give up its weapons   (4/20/2005)
  Miqati for cementing relations with syria   (4/20/2005)

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