Berri, Salam Agree on Quick Cabinet Formation

Speaker Nabih Berri has hoped for a quick government formation as Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam relied on his efforts to facilitate his task.

In remarks to local dailies published on Wednesday, Berri said that he has agreed with Salam during a meeting they held on Monday to put together a cabinet as soon as possible.

He confirmed that he is exerting efforts along with Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat to make a line-up for a 24-member cabinet equally divided by the March 8 and March 14 parties and centrists.

Sources close to Salam said that his meeting with Berri touched on the latest developments in the country that necessitate filling the vacuum in the executive authority.

The PM-designate believes that the speaker is willing to bring viewpoints closer and facilitate Salam's task, the sources said.

Meanwhile, reports said that Jumblat sent caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour to Saudi Arabia for talks with al-Mustaqbal bloc leader ex-PM Saad Hariri.

Abu Faour, who is a PSP official, also held talks with several Saudi officials.

The reports have said that the results of Abu Faour's talks with Hariri are crucial for the success of Salam’s cabinet formation efforts.

Hizbullah and the March 8 alliance insist on getting veto power in the cabinet but the March 14 coalition prefers a neutral government.