Appointments soon, says justice minister

Lebanese justice minister Bahij Tabbara pledged that the cabinet will fill empty judicial positions before the end of September but did not set a deadline for approving allowances for judges.

"Many positions have become vacant due to retirement," he said. "The position will be filled during the recess so the courts will be ready to look into cases after they reconvene."

"Most courts are full of cases accumulated during the war, and judges are demanding better pay and housing loans," Tabbara said. "We still have a lot of work to do to solve these problems."

Tabbara was speaking after a meeting with the newly-appointed president of higher judicial committee, judge Mounir Honein.

Also present were director general, Wajih Khater, and state prosecutor Adnan Adoum.