No Comment from Govt. on Extension as Salam Says Captives Case 'Difficult, Complicated'
The cabinet did not comment on the issue of the parliament's term extension in the statement issued after its weekly session on Thursday, as it admitted that the case of the servicemen held hostage by jihadist groups is “difficult and complicated.”
“As in every session, the prime minister (Tammam Salam) called for the election of a new president and he mentioned the issue of extending the parliament's term without discussing it in detail,” said Information Minister Ramzi Jreij after the meeting at the Grand Serail, in response to a reporter's question.
On Wednesday, 95 MPs voted in favor of extending the parliament's term till June 20, 2017, amid a boycott by the Change and Reform and the Kataeb blocs.
Al-Jadeed television, meanwhile, said the ministers of the Change and Reform bloc and the Kataeb party refused to sign the extension decree during Thursday's cabinet session.
Former president Michel Suleiman for his part announced on Twitter that the three ministers loyal to him – Samir Moqbel, Alice Shabtini and Abdul Mottaleb Hennawi – would not sign the decree.
Separately, Salam pointed out during the session that “the case of the (captive) servicemen is difficult and complicated,” while noting “that there is some progress that might lead to positive results.”
Extremists from the al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State have been holding around 27 Lebanese troops and policemen hostage since August 2, when they stormed the northeastern border town of Arsal and engaged in bloody clashes with the army.
Jreij also announced that the issue of the global call for bids for the management of the two state-owned mobile operators was postponed in order to allow ministers to submit further observations.
The cabinet also approved “the Higher Relief Commission's request for two treasury loans worth LBP 450 billion that are aimed at paying compensations for damages from recent clashes and bombings,” Jreij added.
Y.R.
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