Hariri Asks Opposition to Name its Ministers, Aoun Greedy for Interior Ministry
Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri has reportedly officially asked the Opposition to name its 10 ministers in the new national unity government.
The daily As-Safir said Hariri conveyed his request via Hizbullah official Hajj Hussein Khalil and Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil whom he met Tuesday.
It said the Opposition, however, refused to enter the name game before the issue over the distribution of portfolios had been settled.
An-Nahar newspaper said Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun was still holding on to his demands.
Aoun is calling for the re-appointment of his son-in-law, Bassil, in the new Cabinet. He also insists on having the interior ministry in addition to other services portfolios, a demand rejected by Hariri.
Pan-Arab al-Hayat newspaper said Wednesday Aoun had sent an official word to Hariri stressing his adherence to his demands for the interior ministry in addition to four other portfolios.
It quoted Aoun visitors as saying that the former army general was led to hold onto his demand following March 14 forces” insistence on rejecting Bassil, "which made it a challenge to him."
Aoun reportedly complained about President Michel Suleiman”s "unclear" and "unstable" stances.
The premier-designate on Tuesday met Hizbullah official Hajj Hussein Khalil and tasked his bureau chief Nader Hariri to meet with Bassil.
Al-Akhbar newspaper said Nader Hariri revealed Hariri”s desire to reshuffle Cabinet portfolios. It said Hariri wants a "diverse government."
Opposition ministerial sources, meanwhile, ruled out an imminent announcement of the new government.
"If obstacles were not removed by week”s end, then I”m afraid it would be difficult to finalize the Cabinet lineup before Ramadan," one Opposition source told An-Nahar in remarks published Wednesday.