Military Appointments to Decide Govt.'s Fate as FPM Mulls Responses

The thorny issue of military appointments is expected to dominate the political scene next week, amid anticipation of the Free Patriotic Movement's response to Defense Minister Samir Moqbel's latest decision to extend the term of Higher Defense Council chief Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir.

The FPM has recently warned against the approach of extending the terms of top military officers, calling instead for appointing new chiefs.

In remarks to An Nahar newspaper published Sunday, FPM sources said “all options are on the table,” without specifying the nature of the steps that might be taken or whether the response will reach the extent of suspending participation in the cabinet or even resigning.

Observers believe that a drastic decision would require consultations with Hizbullah, the FPM's main ally.

The issue of appointments is expected to be a new test for the cabinet, which will convene Thursday with a regular agenda. The file was raised in last Thursday's session and Moqbel proposed three candidates who did not garner the needed number of votes.