Berri Calls for National Salvation Cabinet

Speaker Nabih Berri has called for a national salvation government in which parties from across the political spectrum would take part.

“A national salvation cabinet in which everyone takes part without exception should assume its national responsibilities in confronting fateful challenges,” Berri told As Safir daily in remarks published Tuesday.

Berri circles told An Nahar newspaper that his AMAL movement and Hizbullah agreed not to confront al-Mustaqbal movement supporters on the streets, stressing that the Lebanese army should deal with the situation.

The speaker wondered why all the tumult by the March 14 forces over Najib Miqati. “What would have happened if we kept (our stance in) nominating Omar Karami?”

Miqati will form a national salvation cabinet instead of a national unity government after al-Mustaqbal and March14 forces announced their boycott of a new government that is not led by Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri, Berri said.