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| 29/06/2008 Lebanon is stuck between red lines and white smoke.
Once again, an agreement reached over the distribution of portfolios in the national-unity government falls down before seeing light.
On Friday morning, everything seemed to be going on the right track and the hope of the Lebanese to see a new government by the end of the week has risen. But, as usual in Lebanon, everything changed in a fraction of second.
Indeed, the optimist atmosphere that prevailed on that morning transformed into pessimism after sunset, and a new day was added to the extended crisis of the cabinet formation more than one month on nominating Fouad Saniora as PM-Designate.
The return to square one came shortly after the US Charge d'Affaires in Lebanon Michelle Sisson visited Saniora. The Prime Minister designate withdrew a proposal he had submitted one day earlier to the head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun, in a clear attempt to delay the solution pending some changes in the region.
A member of Aoun's bloc, MP Nabil Nicolas, read Sisson's visit well and accused directly US diplomat of thwarting the agreement that was reached over the establishment of the government, stating that the US scheme was still controlling Lebanon.
Speaking to Al-Manar, Nicolas reminded of the many concessions his bloc has made to facilitate the cabinet formation. "General Aoun abandoned everything (including presidency) and, despite having 22 parliamentary seats, he agreed to drop his demand for a basic portfolio. What happened? The proposal offered us regular portfolios as well as the post of vice PM, an honorary post that is not even mentioned in the constitution. The loyalty bloc also considers basic ministries of telecommunications, justice and public affairs as red lines," he said.
In the same context, Free Patriotic Movement (FPM) sources held Saniora responsible of the obstruction of the cabinet formation, saying that the party has returned to demand its initial right for a basic portfolio. FPM political relations official Gebran Bassil stressed his camp is "withdrawing the concession it recently made and in which we accepted two basic portfolios and the seat of deputy premier." "We want a sovereign portfolio," Bassil stressed during a TV interview.
SULEIMAN HOPES CABINET WOULD BE FORMED WITHIN 48 HOURS
However, there are always rays of sunshine in a cloudy sky.
Lebanese President Michel Suleiman said Saturday he was hopeful that a new cabinet would be announced within 48 hours. "There is no excuse for not forming a national unity government, particularly after the agreement we reached in Doha," Suleiman told the diplomatic corps visiting him at the Baabda presidential palace.
"It is important that the cabinet is set up within the next 48 hours," Suleiman stressed. He called on the various political leaders to facilitate the formation of the new cabinet. "He who doesn't facilitate the cabinet formation would be committing a grave mistake," Suleiman said, adding that "our internal problems are not that important compared to our main problem with the Israeli enemy."
BERRI WARNS THINGS CANNOT PROCEED THIS WAY
For his part, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stressed the need to calm down and defuse tension.
"We need to calm down the atmosphere and allow cold-headed people" to tackle the issue, he told Lebanese daily An-Nahar, warning at the same time that "things cannot proceed this way."
RAAD: A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE TO START BILLOWING UP
Earlier, the head of the Loyalty to the Resistance parliamentary bloc MP Mohamad Raad also expressed optimism. He said good news should come out within the next few days after obstacles facing the cabinet line-up have been eliminated.
"We have overcome the difficult time and now we should grab the opportunity in the coming days in order to achieve big success," Raad said at a ceremony in the southern Lebanese town of Nabatiyeh.
He said that a cloud of "white" smoke will start billowing up through the sky soon.
MUSSA WARNS: LEBANON IS NEARING THE RED LINES!
Meanwhile, Arab Secretary General Amr Mussa sounded the alarm, saying Lebanon was nearing the red lines. "Mines are being planted in Lebanon in extremely dangerous circumstances," he said.
Speaking to pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat, Mussa stressed a settlement should emerge from within Lebanon. "We wait to find out how Lebanese politicians would deal with efforts to from the cabinet," he added. | 
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