Salam Denies Heading Saudi Arabia, Suleiman Insists on Including Hizbullah in Cabinet Line-up
Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam denied on Wednesday that he will head to to Saudi Arabia amid reports that President Michel Suleiman won't approve the formation of a new cabinet if Hizbullah was excluded.
Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that earlier on Wednesday that Salam will head to Riyadh to offer condolences over the death of Prince Musaed bin Abdul Aziz al-Saud, the bother of Saudi King Abdullah.
The daily said that he will also hold talks with senior Saudi officials including the chief of General Intelligence, Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz, and ex-PM Saad Hariri.
However, Salam denied later on the report.
Meanwhile, the cabinet formation deadlock is expected to face further complications as the daily reported that Suleiman informed Salam that he will not “sign any formation decree if Hizbullah wasn't included in the line-up.
Sources told the newspaper that Salam is expected to hold talks with Suleiman later on Wednesday.
Salam, since his appointment to form a cabinet in April, is seeking the formation of a 24-member cabinet in which the March 8, March 14 and centrists camps would each get eight ministers.
He is also rejecting granting veto power to any power, which the March 8 camp has been demanding.
The March 14 coalition is meanwhile calling for keeping Hizbullah out of the cabinet over its role in Syria's war.
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