Battle over Cabinet Seats Continues Between Majority, Opposition
Prime Minister Fouad Saniora will hold more discussions with the main players from the opposition and majority camps before announcing his cabinet line-up as the battle over government seats continued.
Saniora on Saturday wrapped up two days of consultations with leaders of rival parliamentary blocs on forming a national unity government but gave no date for a new line-up.
The prime minister has briefed President Michel Suleiman on the results of his talks with MPs from the Western-backed ruling parliamentary majority and the Hizbullah-led opposition backed by Syria and Iran.
Suleiman has reportedly told Saniora during a late Saturday meeting that he wants "fair representation of cabinet seats in accordance with the Doha deal."
Cabinet seats are allocated to allow each major sect representation, as well as splitting seats equally between Muslim and Christian sects.
Press reports on Sunday said it is likely that the Defense Ministry will stay with Elias Murr, while the interior ministry post would be given to a Maronite to be chosen by Suleiman.
They said retired Brig. Gen. Nabil al-Ghafri and former military police chief, from the southern village of Alma al-Shaab, is presumably nominated for the interior ministry portfolio.
The two other key ministries – the foreign and finance – would subsequently be given to a Sunni and a Shiite.
Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri reportedly requested the foreign ministry and was quoted as saying that he would chose a qualified man for the post – likely to be retired ambassador Jihad Murtada.
Press reports said there was a chance that the finance ministry, which automatically goes to a Sunni in that case, would be headed by Saniora personally.