Opposition Gives Saniora 48 Hours to Form Cabinet

Opposition Gives Saniora 48 Hours to Form Cabinet

Mohamad Shmaysani Readers Number : 1036

21/06/2008 The Lebanese National Opposition on Saturday reportedly gave Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora 48 hours to form a new cabinet. The daily As-Safir said the opposition warned Saniora that if a national unity government was not formed within the next 48 hours, the premier has got to quit. It said the opposition warning came following a "comprehensive assessment" of development results since the conclusion of the Doha agreement last month. It's been four weeks since Saniora was named to form a new national unity government. The loyalty bloc accuses the opposition, particularly Free Patriotic Movement leader MP General Michel Aoun, of hindering the process based on unclear information while the opposition accuses the loyalty bloc of not solving their differences on who should take which portfolio. On Friday, loyalty bloc MP Ghassan Tueini said that "it's more honorable" for Saniora to step back if he fails to form a cabinet by next Tuesday. Tueini was speaking after officials close to President Michel Suleiman were pushing for the formation of the new government before the "spiritual summit" next Tuesday at the Baabda presidential Palace and before Saniora's departure Monday to Vienna to attend a donors conference over the reconstruction of the Nahr al-Bared Palestinian refugee camp. "The PM Designate is responsible for giving priority to forming a government, not to tours and visits abroad thus giving the impression that the crisis will continue until further notice," President Suleiman's close sources said. Aoun has been demanding his right in a top cabinet post especially when he enjoys support of all opposition's leaders. "You can rest assured that no cabinet will be formed unless the Change and Reform bloc is an inseparable part of it," Aoun was quoted by As-Safir. Aoun's allies in the opposition, mainly Hezbollah and the Amal Movement issued on Friday a joint statement stressing their rejection to any cabinet formation that "upsets" Aoun. According to An-Nahar daily, sources close to Saniora expressed hope to overcome all obstacles as soon as possible. However, the sources added that "the question of Saniora stepping back is not raised as long as the PM Designate is undertaking his mission as requested by the parliamentary majority."