Miqati: Government 'Not' Near-Birth, To Include Non-Provocative Figures

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati said the government was "not near-birth," uncovering that he favors a 24-strong Cabinet that would include non-provocative figures.

"The birth of the government is not in the coming 24 or 48 hours," Miqati said in an interview published Thursday by pan-Arab Al-Hayat daily.

He said he was in no hurry to form a Cabinet and refused to set a date for the formation of the new government.

Miqati, on the other hand, did not rule out the possibility of a Cabinet formation before the end of this week or early next week if "crucial negotiations made it safely."

He said consultations were ongoing with the various parliamentary blocs based on a government made up of 24 ministers, stressing that "contacts were not yet ripe."

Miqati, however, said he would consider raising the number of ministers to 30 on condition the government includes qualified and new figures.

"I do not mind raising the number (of ministers) providing this will produce a homogeneous and constructive government," Miqati stressed.

Local media said Miqati was preparing to kick off a new round of talks on government formation with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun who has just returned from Syria after attending a mass marking Saint Maroun Day.

They said the premier-designate will also get in touch with Speaker Nabih Berri who is back home from Qatar.