Intense Meetings Seek to End Cabinet Deadlock

Premier-designate Najib Miqati reportedly met with President Michel Suleiman on Thursday night, the same day he sent his brother Taha and nephew Azmi to Damascus.

An Nahar daily said Friday that the Miqati-Suleiman meeting took place at the president’s residence and not his office. As for the envoys that Miqati sent to Syria, well-informed sources told As Safir newspaper that Taha and Azmi Miqati held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Miqati also received a phone call from Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday.

The meetings and consultations came as Miqati’s circles said the cabinet formation atmosphere is positive and refuted reports that the premier-designate would give up his mission and his “constitutional rights.”

They also stressed that Miqati is not ready to enter into a dispute with any side.

Sources close to the prime minister-designate said the meetings that took place between Miqati and top officials made some progress but need more follow-up to achieve common grounds and end the deadlock on the cabinet formation.