March 14, Jamaa Islamiya Name MP Tammam Salam for Premiership

The March 14 forces announced on Thursday that they have chosen Beirut MP Tammam Salam as their nominee for premiership.

"We have agreed on nominating Salam to head the future cabinet,” al-Mustaqbal bloc head MP Fouad Saniora said after the forces meeting at the Center House.

He added: "The lawmakers of the alliance and of al-Jamaa al-Islamiya will officially inform President Michel Suleiman about their candidate during Friday's parliamentary consultations".

The March 14 figures held a broad meeting at the Center House on Thursday to exclusively discuss this issue. Salam later joined the meeting after arriving from a trip to Saudi Arabia's Riyadh, LBCI television reported.

Salam thanked March 14 for nominating him, hoping that this would "reflect in the best interest of Lebanon".

Several media reports have said that he will be named the head of a new government, especially in light of his recent visit to Saudi Arabia.

Earlier on Thursday, the Beirut MP held talks with former PM Saad Hariri at the latter's residence in Riyadh on various developments, most notably the government situation in Lebanon.

Meanwhile, Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5) said that Salam met with Saudi Intelligence chief Prince Bandar bin Sultan also in the Saudi capital.

MTV reported that Hizbullah is likely to nominate Salam to the premiership “because he is a consensual and non-provocative figure".

The Development and Liberation bloc is also expected to endorse his candidacy, it added.

Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) had reported earlier that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat had contacted March 8 officials in order to inquire if they support Salam's candidacy, but he was met with vague answers “that were neither negative nor positive".

Sources close to the Free Patriotic Movement however told VDL that an agreement over Salam had not been reached, explaining that he is not a consensual figure and is affiliated with the March 14 camp.

LBCI later revealed that FPM leader MP Michel Aoun is expected to announce his position on the consultations over appointing a new premier on Friday after the Change and Reform bloc's meeting.

Binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier are scheduled to be held on Friday and Saturday with President Suleiman at the Baabda Palace.