Naharnet Newsdesk - Hizbullah Trades its Way Out of Cabinet Crisis: Deputy PM, Telecommunications Posts for Aoun

			Welcome
English

Lebanon

Hizbullah Trades its Way Out of Cabinet Crisis: Deputy PM, Telecommunications Posts for Aoun

Hizbullah has offered a new way out of the ongoing cabinet crisis.
The offer, made by Hizbullah MP Hassan Fadlallah, suggested that Prime Minister-designated Fouad Saniora give Free Patriotic Movement official Issam Abou Jamra the position of deputy prime minister, while the telecommunications seat goes to one of FPM leader Michel Aoun's parliamentary bloc members.

The daily As Safir on Monday said officials from both MP Saad Hariri's Mustaqbal Movement and Aoun's Reform and Change bloc refused to comment on Hizbullah's offer.

It quoted sources close to Aoun as saying that the FPM leader, however, continued to cling to a demand for a sovereign ministry.

A senior opposition official also told As Safir that the anti-government camp is likely to ask Qatar to intervene again "for the sake of salvaging the Doha deal."

The official said that the opposition was not willing to tolerate any further delay over the formation of the new government, particularly since Saniora never let go of his first offer – which gives the opposition 10 portfolio ministers, including one top post, an offer rejected by the Hizbullah-led anti-government March 8 coalition.

Hizbullah international relations officer Nawwaf Mousawi, meanwhile, accused the pro-government camp of "conspiring" against Hizbullah.

Mustaqbal MP Azzam Dandashi hit back, saying: "Such stances are indication that schemes are being prepared to launch new attacks and raids against unarmed civilians in a bid to hamper the birth of the new cabinet and to achieve political gains."

Saniora had earlier attacked Aoun, accusing him of challenging President Michel Suleiman's quota in the new cabinet in an effort to "compensate for losing the presidency."

While ongoing consultations continued between Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and MP Saad Hariri, Aoun-Saniora talks halted.

Berri, in remarks published by As Safir Monday, expressed disappointment over failure to form the new cabinet.

"The cabinet should have been formed during the first week" of tasking Saniora with the mission, Berri said. "Unfortunately, it was not."

Beirut, 23 Jun 08, 10:32


Your Comments


You Make the News

Cast Your Comments on this Article
View & Recommend Readers' Comments

Other Headlines

Khalife Clarifies Previous Statement: Ethiopian Plane 'Explosion' Not Necessarily Sabotage Act

Separate St. Maroun Celebrations in Beirut and Brad, Sfeir Says Maronite Church Keen on Coexistence

Spanish King Inspects U.N. Troops in South Lebanon

Jumblat Expresses Regret at 'Offensive Words' against Syrian People, Leadership

Hariri Convinced with Syrian Clarifications on Assad's Remarks

Struger: The Situation is Calm, All Sides Cooperating with UNIFIL

Murr Kicks of Talks with U.S. Officials

Army Arrests Majzoub's Uncle

Suleiman to Spain's King: Lebanon, UNIFIL Facing Dangerous Israeli Threats

Saudi Government Urges International Response to Israeli Threats Against Lebanon, Syria

U.S. Congressman Involved in Deployment of U.S. Marines in Beirut Dies

Phalange Party: Assad's Remarks 'a Second Message' after Abu Moussa's

Jumblat: Leave the Issue of Feb. 14 Rally Participation to Last Minute

Sfeir in Lent Message: Maronite Presence is Based on Covenant, We Ask for No One's Guarantees

Quarrel at Manara Fishermen Port: Mashnouq Denies Being Beaten, Aridi Declines to Comment

Recovered Black Box Could Tell Story of Ethiopian Plane Crash

Assad to Berri: Syria will Support Lebanon if Israel Attacks

Black Box Retrieved 14 Days after Ethiopian Plane Crash

Filipina House Worker Murders Employer's Sister with Kitchen Knife

Rifi in Damascus as March 14 Adapts to New Phase

Assad to Berri: We Support Lebanon and Its Stability

Aoun: Lebanese Refugees in Israel is a Pressing Issue, Not All of Them are Spies

Survey: Mixed View of Hizbullah in Muslim Countries

Western Diplomat Rules Out Israeli War on Lebanon

Mustaqbal Doubts Authenticity of Remarks Attributed to Assad, Hariri Calls Assad

Aridi: Black Boxes Located under the Ethiopian Plane's Tail

European Official: Lebanon is Safe from Israeli Attacks during Next 3 Months

Sfeir Sends Jumblat Message

Qassem Rules Out War but Says Hizbullah Should be Ready

Jumblat Concerned over New Israeli War, Describes Situation as Madness

Hizbullah Cadres on Alert

U.S. Concern over Alleged Arms Smuggling, Repetition of 2006 Scenario

Suleiman Consulting with Officials on Reviving National Dialogue

International Review of UNIFIL Structure Amid Denial to Downsize it

Gilad: Israel's Anti-Missile System to Remain on Lebanon's Front

Jumblat Snaps Back at Lieberman: We Are with Syrian People, Leadership Above All Else

Sfeir: Possibilities of War Exist as Long as Hizbullah Wants to Play State Role

Cassese: Hariri Case Highly Complex

Suleiman: Lebanese Democratic System Among the Best in the World

Interior Ministry, USAID Sign MOU on Technical Support for Municipal Elections

Wahab Accuses Arslan of Murder Attempt, Tells Him Gone is Era of Dinosaurs

Army, Lebanese Forces at Loggerheads Over Alleged Torture of Minor

Geagea: March 14 will Carry On until Cedar Revolution Goals are Achieved

Libya Expects Suleiman to Participate in Arab Summit Despite Shiite Ire

Moussa: Fragile Mideast Situation Could Reflect on Lebanon

Agreement to Stop News Leaks on Dar al-Fatwa

Assad: Civil War in Lebanon Could Start in Days unless They Change the Whole System

Names of Lebanese Passengers Released from Plane Crash


Other Categories

Editorials
SpecialReports
Middle East
The World
Interview
Away From Politics
Lebanon Business
World Business
Culture
Lebanon Sports
World Sports
Technology
Health
Fringe


Comments

Please wait while we load the comments

Click to Comment
Recommend Readers' Comments to Promote Their Views