Saniora, Fatfat, Mashnouq Head to Jeddah for Talks with Hariri

Al-Mustaqbal leaders are scheduled to hold talks in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, a meeting that would result in a unified stance from Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's efforts to form his government.

An al-Mustaqbal delegation, comprising "ex-PM Fouad Saniora and MPs Ahmed Fatfat and Nohad al-Mashnouq, traveled to the Saudi city of Jeddah for talks with ex-PM Saad Hariri," state-run National News Agency reported on Sunday afternoon.

Sources following the consultations aimed at forming the cabinet, told An Nahar daily that the “unified stance” that would emerge from the meeting in Saudi Arabia in addition to Salam's alleged call for the March 8 alliance to negotiate with him as a single entity would make some headway.

Speaker Nabih Berri had informed the PM-designate that his Amal movement would negotiate separately with Salam on its shares. But Salam allegedly told him that he would consider the March 8 alliance of FPM, Hizbullah and Amal as a single coalition that would get 8 ministers in a 24-member cabinet.

Salam insists on giving the March 14 alliance, the centrists and March 8 coalition 8 ministers each. He also wants a cabinet of non provocative political figures.

Al-Mustaqbal sources told An Nahar that the movement's priority was also to have a government of politicians who are not party members and who are “peaceful and not warriors.”