Berri's Development and Liberation Bloc Nominates Salam to Head New Govt.
The Development and Liberation bloc of Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Friday its support for MP Tammam Salam to head a new government.
Berri said: “The Development and Liberation bloc has decided to nominate MP Tammam Salam to head a consensual national government.”
He made the announcement after a meeting for the bloc at his Ain el-Tineh residence.
“We hope his nomination will pave the way for a new phase in Lebanon,” he added.
“This is a new phase between the majority and opposition and we hope both sides would work for the interests of the nation,” he remarked in a brief statement.
The March 14 alliance and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat announced on Thursday their endorsement of Salam to head the new cabinet, while the remaining members of the March 8 camp have yet to reveal their position.
Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is expected to voice his stance later on Friday, while al-Akhbar newspaper said a meeting held Thursday night in Ain el-Tineh between Berri, Caretaker Ministers Ali Hassan Khalil and Jebran Bassil, and the Hizbullah leader's political aide Hussein Khalil led to an agreement to name Salam.
Binding parliamentary consultations to name a new prime minister are scheduled to take place with President Michel Suleiman on Friday afternoon at the Baabda Palace.
The consultations will continue on Saturday.
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