Aoun Threatens Not to Join New Cabinet Unless FPM Gets Key Cabinet Post
Christian opposition leader Gen. Michel Aoun has reportedly threatened not to join the new government unless his Free Patriotic Movement gets a key cabinet post.
The daily As Safir on Monday said the opposition leadership, including Hizbullah and AMAL Movement, had been informed of Aoun”s decision.
An opposition leader told As Safir that Aoun has informed the anti-government camp he would not accept to exchange a key cabinet portfolio for any service-related post.
Aoun also informed the opposition that he will not accept any bargain over the naming issue "of this minister or that."
As Safir said Aoun had also "told everybody" that he would not accept to join the new cabinet unless Shiites and Sunnis each get a key government post.
The same opposition leader told the newspaper that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had adopted Aoun”s decision.
Berri, in turn, informed Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora of Aoun”s decision, telling him to reconsider the cabinet line-up such as Aoun”s FPM gets a key post.