|
Siniora, 64, was appointed on Wednesday by new President Michel Sleiman to form a government of national unity in accordance with a May 21 agreement signed in Qatar by feuding factions. Siniora first met representatives of the various parliamentary blocs, and after finishing his consultations on Saturday he will discuss the outcome with Sleiman at which point the new government is expected to be formed.
On Friday Siniora met parliament speaker Nabih Berri, who was a leader in the Hezbollah-led opposition that led an 18-month long campaign to bring down his administration. The Doha accord was reached after sectarian battles earlier this month left at least 65 people dead and saw the Shiite Hezbollah stage a spectacular takeover of Sunni sectors of west Beirut. "What is happening now is a serious test to determine whether the minority actually intends to open the door to reconciliation or keep it hostage to blackmail," said Farid Makari, deputy speaker in parliament and a member of the Western-backed majority, after he met Siniora.
Under the Doha deal, the ruling bloc will have 16 seats in the new cabinet and the opposition will have 11, with the president appointing three ministers. Cabinet seats are allocated to allow each major sect representation as well as splitting seats equally between Muslim and Christian sects. Amal MP Anwar Al-Khalil said the goal of this requirement "to affirm and consolidate integration and avoid confessional divisions."
Lebanon's political crisis began in November 2006 with the resignation of all the Shiite ministers in Siniora's cabinet, which the opposition then said made the government illegitimate.
Lawmakers leaving sessions with Siniora on Friday expressed reserved optimism that forming the new government will proceed more smoothly than expected. "There is a positive atmosphere from everyone," parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri told reporters.
Sleiman, Lebanon's army chief for the past 10 years, formally reappointed Siniora after wrapping up consultations on Wednesday and the new government is expected to be formed within a week.
Forming the government and Sunday's election of Sleiman as president are seen as major steps towards reviving the country's institutions that were left largely paralysed because of the political stand-off. The deal brokered in the Qatari capital gave veto power to the opposition in the cabinet and calls for a new electoral law for legislative elections next year.
The violence that preceded the Doha deal was sparked by government measures against Hezbollah that were eventually rescinded, and was the worst sectarian unrest since the end of Lebanon's 1975-1990 civil war.
|
