Sanyoura consultations to form government

The recent explosion in Lebanon came after the designated Lebanese prime minister Foad Sanyoura on Friday started his consultations to form a new government which is expected to include several faces opposed to Syria and a lesser number supporting President Emil Lahoud.

Sanyoura began consultations by meeting with heads of the former Lebanese government. He continued on Friday evening consultations with heads of parties and parliamentary blocs.

Observers consider that the unprecedented consensus Sanyoura got from the parliament, which nominated him to president over the government by a majority of 126 parliamentarians out of 128, show agreement among the parliamentary blocs and also a prior agreement on the assignment of ministerial positions.

He vowed, in a press conference following his nomination by the Lebanese President Emil Lahoud, to continue the policy pursued by the formed Lebanese prime minister Rafiq al-Hariri through implementing large scale program of reforms at all levels.

He indicated that his reform program starts with completing the implementation of the Taif accord and the constitution, approving a new and permanent law for elections, decentralization of administration and a plan for comprehensive educational development.

Sanyoura vowed to ensure the independence of the law, strengthen state's institutions and efficiency, fight waste and corruption, strengthen growth and development and facing the economic problem in the country.

He indicated that one of the priorities of the government is to disclose the identity of the criminals who killed Rafiq al-Hariri, minister Basel Fleihan and their colleagues, the killers of journalist Samir al-Qassir and the former secretary general of the Lebanese communist party George Hawi.

One of the priorities of Sanyoura's next government is to deal with Lebanon's debts estimated at $ 36 billion, estimated at 185% of the country's GNP.