Mikati says 'confident' no minister will boycott cabinet

Caretaker PM and PM-designate Najib Mikati had said that the coming period will be focused on "acting in caretaker capacity to facilitate the state's matters and citizens' affairs," stressing that the best solution would be to "quickly elect a new president."

Responding to a question by Annahar newspaper about the possibility that some ministers might boycott governmental work, Mikati said: "I'm confident that no minister will be reluctant to perform his national duty or attend (cabinet sessions) if needed."

"I know all ministers and I have experienced their governmental work and I'm confident of their patriotic sense," Mikati added.

"It has become evident who wants good for the country and who wants evil," Mikati went on to say, in an apparent jab at outgoing President Michel Aoun and Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil.

Aoun had earlier in the day issued a "decree" considering the caretaker cabinet as "resigned," a move described by Mikati as lacking "any constitutional value."

Bassil has meanwhile argued that Mikati's caretaker cabinet is not eligible to assume the president's powers in the event of presidential vacuum, reportedly asking the ministers who were named by Aoun and the FPM to boycott governmental work and meetings.