Siniora delivers draft of unity cabinet lineup to Sleiman
Prime Minister Fouad Siniora headed to the Presidential Palace late on Thursday to meet President Michel Sleiman and show him a first draft of the new cabinet”s lineup.
Earlier on Thursday, Siniora contacted Sleiman and informed him about the outcome of his Wednesday meeting with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
Siniora”s information office said that the prime minister also briefed Sleiman on the security situation and the political complications that the recent incidents have caused.
Siniora urged Interior Minister Hassan Sabeh and Defense Minister Elias Murr to take all necessary measures to preserve security in the country after recent clashes have put the consultations aimed at forming a new cabinet in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, Sabeh called the Central Security Council to session late Thursday to discuss possible measures to be taken to contain the situation.
After the meeting, the council asked the security forces to come up with a plan based on the following items; halting all forms of incitement by the media, ensuring the return of all people in Beirut to their homes and places of work which they left during the recent violence, pulling down all posters, flags, and banners that are erected in the streets of Beirut, and returning all political party offices.
As a result of last month”s clashes, the army took control of many such offices in a bid to put down tensions.
Parliamentary majority leader MP Saad Hariri said late Wednesday that he will be halting all contacts and talks on the new cabinet until "armed factions stop their attacks" on Future Movement supporters.
"We will halt all contacts aimed at forming the new cabinet unless the opposition commits to implementing the security aspects of the Doha Agreement," he was quoted as saying.
Under the agreement, all parties vowed not to use violence in settling political disputes.
A security report on Wednesday said that Bilal Zaghloul, an activist with Hariri”s Future Movement, was shot in the Beirut neighborhood of Bir Hassan by two men dressed in Parliament Police uniforms.
Most Parliament Police members are believed to be supporters of Berri, head of the opposition Amal Movement.
Amal militants were on Hizbullah”s side during last month”s Beirut clashes between opposition and pro-government gunmen.
Apart from Siniora, Sleiman also met Thursday with a Phalange Party delegation headed by its leader, former President Amine Gemayel.
Gemayel, who congratulated Sleiman for his recent election as president and voiced the Phalange”s support, called on rival leaders to facilitate the formation of the new government.
"All parties should [set aside] their narrow interests and think of the country as a whole," he said.
"Further delay in forming the cabinet will reflect negatively on our national interests," he added, adding the he hoped a new government would be formed in time for French President Nicholas Sarkozy”s visit on Saturday.
Asked about reports that a Qatari envoy might come to Lebanon to help the rival parties eliminate the hurdles facing the formation of the new cabinet, Gemayel said that the Lebanese would be able to solve their problems on their won.
Sarkozy is expected to spearhead a large French delegation to Lebanon on Saturday. He will be joined by French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Defense Minister Herve Morin.
Heads of French right-wing and left-wing parties were also invited to accompany the president on his visit.