Report: Cabinet Formation Process Makes Serious Breakthrough

The cabinet formation process has made a “serious breakthrough” and the line-up will be announced by mid-next week at the latest, sources close to Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam said on Wednesday.

“The cabinet comprises 24 ministers who do not belong to political parties and are not MP hopefuls,” the sources told MTV.

Media reports said caretaker Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil held a two-hour meeting with Salam at the PM-designate's residence in Mousaitbeh.

Salam also met with Beirut MP Michel Pharaon, caretaker State Minister Marwan Kheireddine and former MP Marwan Abu Fadel – both close to Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan.

Meanwhile, NBN television said reports claiming that Salam had submitted a cabinet line-up to President Michel Suleiman are false.

In remarks published in An Nahar newspaper on Wednesday, Salam expressed optimism over the formation of his cabinet, denying that efforts to form a 24-member cabinet were rejected by the Lebanese foes.

“We are still discussing the formation of the government according to this formula,” Salam said in comments.

The Beirut MP held on Tuesday two-hour talks with Suleiman at the Baabda palace.

An Nahar newspaper reported that the meeting tackled the latest developments and didn't focus on the distribution of portfolios.

Suleiman, according to As Safir, urged Salam to continue his talks with the key political forces to complete the process of the formation.

“The formation of any cabinet requires time,” Salam's visitors quoted him as saying, describing the process as a “puzzle.”

“I am optimistic over the formation process especially after the flexibility of Hizbullah and Amal,” Salam said according to his visitors.

He expressed fear concerning the security situation, calling on officials to act responsibly.

Sources close to Salam described a meeting held with Hizbullah leader's political assistant Hussein Khalil as “positive.”

“Khalil was open to all proposals and had no crippling demands on the formation of the government,” the sources said.