Mikati won't call for session on army chief before Hezbollah announces stance

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati will not call for a cabinet session that would discuss the term extension of the army chief before Hezbollah announces its stance, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said.

The daily reported Monday that Mikati needs to know whether Hezbollah would support its ally, the Free Patriotic Movement, and refuse the extension of Gen. Joseph Aoun's term ahead of his planned retirement in January.

Aoun's retirement would add another gap to crisis-hit Lebanon's withering and paralyzed institutions as the tiny Mediterranean country has been without a president, while its government has been running in a limited caretaker capacity. Lebanon has also been without a top spy chief to head its General Security Directorate since March, and without a central bank governor.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri had hoped for the extension to take place in Cabinet, but vowed to discuss Aoun's term extension in parliament if Cabinet fails to take this step before the end of this month.

Mikati, who has meanwhile been discussing the issue with Hezbollah secretary-general's political aide Hussein Khalil and Berri's aide Ali Hassan Khalil, hasn't yet received a final answer from Hezbollah, Asharq al-Awsat said.

Berri has said he will call for a legislative session during the first half of December and that there are only two options, either the extension of Aoun's term or the appointment of a new army chief. "There is no third option and no assignment (of the highest ranking officer)."

The Free Patriotic Movement reportedly has three candidates for the army chief post, Intelligence Directorate chief Tony Qahwaji, Elie Akl and Maroun Qbayati.