Abou Faour Meets Berri: Discussions over New Govt. Have Not Reached Dead-End

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour stressed on Friday that the discussions over the formation of a new government are not “bleak,” said various media reports Saturday.

He said: “Discussions did not reach a dead-end.”

He made his remarks after holding talks with Speaker Nabih Berri at his Ain el-Tineh residence in the presence of his aide caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil.

“Primer Minister-designate Tammam Salam is inquiring about the ideas of the political powers over the new cabinet without making any concessions over his views,” added Abou Faour of MP Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front.

The minister reiterated Jumblat's position that all political powers should be represented in the new government.

Earlier on Friday, Abou Faour and caretaker Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi had held talks on the formation of a new government with President Michel Suleiman, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat Saturday.

For his part, Khalil was reported as saying that the new cabinet “will help pave for real political reconciliation in Lebanon.”

Al-Joumhouria newspaper meanwhile reported Saturday that Jumblat had started to “intensify his contacts over forming a new cabinet,” warning against keeping Hizbullah and AMAL out of any new government.

The MP had returned to Lebanon on Thursday after a trip to Northern Ireland.

Salam had conducted a series of consultations with various political powers in order to form a new cabinet.

The March 14 forces are demanding the formation of a neutral government, while the rival March 8 forces are demanding a political one.

Jumblat has meanwhile announced that he opposes the establishment of a one-sided cabinet.