Abu Faour: This Week Will Bear New Formulas on Cabinet Formation

In a bid to solve the deadlock of lining up a new cabinet, PM-designate Tammam Salam aims to kick off a series of consultations with political parties and has therefore met on Sunday at his residence in Musaitbeh with outgoing minister Wael Abu Faour, As-Safir daily reported Monday.

“This week will carry several new atmospheres and formulas regarding the cabinet formation” the newspaper quoted Abu Faour as saying.

He dded that Salam plans to visit President Michel Suleiman on Monday before he starts an extensive round of consultations in that regard.

Abu Faour assured that Salam has been “patient and persistent” to form a government and has therefore approved to take into considerations some new suggestions made by political parties, including a proposal by MP Michel Aoun in a bid to solve the deadlock.

Salam plans to build on the new tension that has risen lately between Aoun and his Hizbullah ally in what the paper described as the “new repositioning of Aoun,” on hopes it would help in forming the cabinet.

Divisions have emerged between Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement over the extension of the term of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji.

Visitors to Salam stressed Sunday that the PM-designate's unrelenting efforts to form a cabinet will not wither, and that he insists to take decisions that serve the country's interest.

He plans to form a cabinet that distances Lebanon from the inflamed situations in the region, the visitors added.