The prime minister-designate began putting together a government he said will have the chief goal of organizing crucial parliament elections before a May 31 deadline in an effort to end Lebanon's long political crisis.
Najib Mikati, a telecommunications tycoon who has close links with Syrian President Bashar Assad, said he was to meet with President Emile Lahoud yesterday and that he intends to announce a government as soon as possible.
That formula would satisfy the anti-Syrian opposition, which has for weeks sought a neutral Cabinet focused solely on calling the election. The opposition wants the polls to be held on time because it is confident of winning a majority in the 128-member parliament, ending the domination by pro-Syrian factions.
Lebanon has had no government since Feb. 28, raising fears of a delay in elections that are supposed to take place before the current parliament's mandate expires May 31.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Bassem Fleihan, who was badly wounded in the Feb. 14 blast that killed former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, died Monday at a Paris military hospital where he was being treated, making him the 21st victim of the bombing. He was 41.
Mikati, who was invited by Lahoud on Friday to form a government, consulted with legislators on the formation of a new Cabinet, meeting first with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, then with other lawmakers, including opposition members.
Speaking to reporters after consultations ended, Mikati said he was leaning toward a small Cabinet with ministers who were not running for election.
The main goal of the Cabinet "will be passing the election law and holding general elections within the constitutional time-frame," he said. It was the first time Mikati, who had earlier said he wanted elections "as soon as possible," specifically mentioned the May 31 deadline.
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