March 8 Says it Overcame 95% of Obstacles as Draft Lineup Makes the Rounds

Parties involved in the formation of the new cabinet overcame 95 percent of the obstacles paving way for President Michel Suleiman to name the ministers that are part of his share in the government, high-ranking March 8 sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily published Friday that consultations are now underway for Suleiman to name the second Maronite minister after agreement has been reached on naming retired Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Marwan Charbel for the interior ministry post.

Informed sources told al-Liwaa newspaper that agreement was reached on Thursday on the following 30-member draft cabinet lineup.

Sunnis:

Najib Miqati: Premier

Mohammed Safadi: Finance Minister

Walid Daouq: Information Minister

Faisal Karami: Education Minister

Bassem Yammout or Mohammed Qaraawi

Alaeddine Terro: Minister of State

Shiites:

Mohammed Jawad Khalife: Health Minister

Ali Abdullah or Ghazi Zoaiter: Environment Minister

Ali al-Shami or Yassine Jaber: Foreign Minister

Hussein Hajj Hassan or Hassan Fadlallah: Agriculture Minister

Sobhi Yaghi: Youth and Sports Minister

Adnan al-Sayyed Hussein: Minister of State

Druze:

Ghazi Aridi: Public Works Minister

Wael Abou Faour: Social Affairs Minister

Talal Arslan or Marwan Kheireddine: Minister of State

Maronites:

Jebran Bassil: Energy Minister

Shakib Qortbawi: Justice Minister

Fadi Abboud: Tourism Minister

Marwan Charbel: Interior Minister

Salim Karam: Minister of State

The 6th Maronite minister who should be named by Suleiman

Orthodox:

Nicolas Nahhas: Deputy Premier

Fayez Ghosn: Defense Minister

Samir Moqbel from the president’s share

Marwan Fadel

Catholics:

Charbel Nahhas: Labor Minister

Gaby Layyoun: Telecommunications Minister

Nicolas Fattoush or someone else

Armenians:

Nazareth Saboundjian: Industry Minister

Another Armenian as State Minister (He is reportedly a telecom engineer)