Govt. Formation Efforts at Heart of Talks at Hbeish-Hosted Dinner Attended by Suleiman, Salam

Mustaqbal bloc MP Hadi Hbeish hosted on Friday a dinner banquet that brought together a number of key figures in Lebanon, including President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam, reported the daily An Nahar on Monday.

It said that the formation of a new government was at the heart of discussions.

The banquet also included the head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora, Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Mustaqbal MPs Ahmed Fatfat and Nohad al-Mashnouq, Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, and General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim.

One of the participants said that the banquet was a simple social event that should not be over-analyzed, said An Nahar.

The daily did note however that Saniora headed to Hbeish's residence to attend the dinner immediately from Rafik Hariri International Airport upon his return to Lebanon from a trip to Paris.