Lebanese Officials Turn to Syria for Help in Cabinet Formation

The latest visits of Lebanese officials to Damascus to discuss the draft government lineup with the Assad regime will most likely help in the formation of the cabinet soon.

Syrian President Bashar Assad held talks with Marada Movement leader Suleiman Franjieh on Wednesday. The Syrian leader also met with Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s brother Taha on Monday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and Speaker Nabih Berri’s political assistant MP Ali Hassan Khalil were among the visitors to Damascus.

Jumblat traveled to the Syrian capital on Wednesday night and held talks with Assad on Thursday.

The Daily Star quoted political sources as saying that the wide-ranging contacts that took place over the last 48 hours between Miqati, the March 8 alliance and Syrian officials indicated that the new government was expected to “see the light very soon,” later this week or beginning next week.

Sources following up the consultations on the formation of the government unveiled to An Nahar newspaper that “something will happen soon” but ruled out the announcement of a lineup on Thursday.

Other informed sources told As Safir daily that the Syrian meddling is mainly aimed at urging Lebanese officials to speed up the cabinet formation process and refute rumors that Damascus was rejecting a quick solution to the government deadlock.