Mikati meets al-Rahi, says all sects were present in cabinet session

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati met Monday with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi over a controversial cabinet session that had infuriated the Free Patriotic Movement.

The caretaker cabinet had convened last Monday to discuss "urgent" matters in a session boycotted by the FPM. FPM chief Jebran Bassil later blasted Hezbollah, Mikati and other parties over the session.

Mikati said after the meeting that al-Rahi had pointed out to him that consultations were necessary before holding the cabinet session.

Former President Michel Aoun and Bassil met Friday separately with al-Rahi. "A lot of rights are unprotected and the (National) Pact and the constitution are being undermined," the ex-president said.

Mikati responded Monday that "all sects were represented in the cabinet session."

"That's why conformity to the National Pact can't be an issue," the PM said from Bkirki.