Report: March 8 to 'Resort to the Street' over De Facto Cabinet 'Madness'

The Hizbullah-led March 8 alliance could “resort to the street” on Monday to send a clear message to Premier-designate Tammam Salam that he would be taking a dangerous road in announcing a de facto cabinet, An Nahar daily reported.

The newspaper, which did not provide further details and did not rely on sources, said that Salam would most likely announce his line-up on Tuesday.

“The direct message would be aimed at informing those concerned not to take such a step,” it said.

As Safir daily also quoted sources as saying that the announcement of the line-up was “just a matter of time.”

But high-ranking March 8 sources said that such a step would be “political madness.”

They warned that a fait accompli cabinet would have bad repercussions on the local situation.

March 8 has asked for veto power in the new government and sought to name its own ministers despite the rejection of Salam.

But sources close to the PM-designate have said that the formation of a14-member cabinet became a possibility after the alliance rejected a proposal for a government of 24 ministers divided equally among the Hizbullah-led alliance, the March 14 coalition and the centrists that include President Michel Suleiman and MP Walid Jumblat's Progressive Socialist Party.