Mini Lebanese government formed

The Lebanese prime minister Najib Miqati on Tuesday announced the formation of a mini cabinet, all of them agreed not to be candidate for the parliamentary elections due in May.

One of the main members of the government are Elias al-Murr the minister of defense; Mahmoud Hammoud minister of foreign affairs; Hasan al-Saba the minister of the Interior, Khaled Qabbanbi for Justice and Ghassan Salamah for education and culture.

In a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, Miqati explained that his mini government includes all sides and is balanced. He indicated that this government was not formed on the principle of sectarian shares, and might be welcomed from some and viewed with reservations by others.

Miqati stressed that his government will exist for a short term and will supervise the elections within set constitutional grace periods, as well as other files concerning the investigation to the assassination of the former Lebanese prime minister Rafic Hariri.

In this regard, Miqati stressed his will to ask leaders of the security departments to resign from their posts, noting he will discuss with his government this decision.

Miqati also called on all political sides to cooperate so as his government to be "a crossing bridge for the after elections phase after which a national unity government will be formed." The new Lebanese government held its first session yesterday later in the day and the new ministerial formation will be submitted to the parliament to win the confidence next week.

Miqati is facing a difficult mission. After forming the government he has to win the confidence at the parliament and work on a draft election law and be approved at the parliament and all of these have to be completed within two weeks in order to have the elections before its set date, by the end of May.