U.S. Official Says No Ban on Hizbullah Participation in New Cabinet
A U.S. official has said that Washington did not reject Hizbullah's participation in the new government if the approval of the cabinet line-up lied on the presence of its members in it.
In remarks to As Safir daily published on Saturday, the official, who was not identified, said: “If the safe passage of the new cabinet in Lebanon and the closure of the caretaking era lied in Hizbullah's participation, then the U.S. does not mind to that.”
“Lebanon's situation and its structure confirm without any doubt that there is no possibility to form a government without Hizbullah,” the official added.
The official's remarks came amid a flurry of political activity to clinch a deal on an all-embracing cabinet, a Hizbullah request.
A proposal for the March 8 and 14 alliances and centrists to get eight ministers each is under discussion.
President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam have warned however that they would form a non partisan government soon if the rival parties failed to reach an agreement on the unity cabinet.
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