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Miqati Focuses his Contacts towards March 14: 24-Minister Cabinet Will be Formed before February 20

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati stressed that he is maintaining his consultations in order to end disputes regarding the formation of a new government, adding that he will not commit to a certain deadline or a specific number of ministers in the new Cabinet.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Sunday: "At the end of the day, the main concern is establishing a government that ensures the people's trust and we will announce it once it is ready."

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Pivotal Speeches during Feb. 14 Memorial: Hariri-Miqati Reconciliation Won’t Alter Mustaqbal Stand towards Cabinet

The March 14 forces are set to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during a ceremony on Monday during which pivotal speeches on various levels will be made, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

As Safir stated on Sunday that the commemoration will be an occasion for the March 14 camp to “set its work strategy for the next phase in Lebanon” based on whether it will participate in Cabinet or not.

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Harb: March 14 Won’t Join Government Where It Has No Influence over Decisions

Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb on Saturday said the March 14 coalition will not take part in a government where it has no influence over decisions.

“March 14 is unwilling to enter into a political bazaar,” Harb said in an interview excerpt to be published Sunday.

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Berri's Son-in-Law Denies Involvement in Money Laundering

Ayman Zakaria Joumaa, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri's son-in-law, on Saturday denied involvement in the Lebanese-Canadian Bank money laundering.

"I have nothing to do with Ayman Saeed Joumaa whose name was mentioned in the U.S. Treasury as being involved in money laundering," a statement by Ayman Zakaria Joumaa said.

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Miqati Makes March 14 a 'Tempting Offer' to Join Government, Sources

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati has reportedly made the March 14 alliance a "tempting" offer to join the new Government.

Al-Markazia news agency, citing well-informed political sources, on Saturday said Miqati made a "tempting" offer to March 14 proposing that the coalition join the new Cabinet "after reconsidering its terms of participation."

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Anti-terrorism Act Links U.S. Assistance to Hizbullah Power in Lebanon Government

U.S. lawmakers are reportedly pushing for the adoption of the Hizbullah Anti-Terrorism Act of 2011 which guarantees that organizations like Hizbullah do not benefit from the money of American taxpayers.

During hearings on Egypt and Lebanon this week, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Howard Berman announced that he would be introducing the new legislation entitled the "Hizbullah anti-terrorism act of 2011."

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Conflicting Reports on Cabinet Formation Obstacles as FPM Seeks to Clinch a Good Deal

Premier-designate Najib Miqati intensified contacts aimed at forming the cabinet and met with Speaker Nabih Berri, Hizbullah chief’s political assistant Hussein Khalil, Free Patriotic Movement officials, March 14 representatives and MP Tammam Salam.

The latest contacts delayed the formation of the government until next week.

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March 14 Welcomes Dar al-Fatwa’s Statement, Supports Egyptian People

The March 14 forces lauded the statement of Dar al-Fatwa, saying it conforms with the principles of all Lebanese that seek to defend their country’s democratic system and the Taef agreement.

During a meeting of several March 14 officials at Center House in downtown Beirut on Friday, the conferees said the Dar al-Fatwa’s statement “conforms with the principles of all Lebanese in defense of the democratic system, the Taef accord, the international tribunal, Lebanon’s independence and the sovereignty of the state.”

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Jumblat Criticizes Dar al-Fatwa Meeting, Participates in Celebratory Gunfire as Mubarak Steps Down

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has hinted that he was frustrated from the latest meeting of Lebanon's highest Sunni Muslim authority.

Sunni council Dar al-Fatwa on Thursday warned the next cabinet against abandoning the international tribunal investigating the 2005 murder of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

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Miqati Adopts ‘Silent Diplomacy’ to Form ‘Strong Cabinet’

Premier-designate Najib Miqati is mulling to form a 24-member “strong cabinet” through “silent diplomacy,” the billionaire businessman and his circles told An Nahar newspaper.

Miqati said in remarks published Saturday that he was seeking to form “a strong cabinet that would launch a relentless work through competent ministers.”

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