Aoun later discussed the decision: "The door is totally shut in the face of our participation in Cabinet, because we could not agree on the distribution of governmental portfolios."

Aoun requested four of the twenty four ministries, most notably the Ministry of Justice, which was ultimately the non-negotiable deal breaker. Aoun believes that implementing his reform package requires control over the Justice Ministry.

PM designate Fouad Siniora said, "It is impossible to respond to the demands of Michel Aoun concerning the ministries that his movement would like to have."

Hizbollah seeks Foreign Ministry

Seniora on Tuesday threatened to quit his task of formation of the new government, having come under pressure by Hizbollah and newly elected speaker Nabih Berri to grant the Foreign Ministry to a Shiite Muslim. In a commendable move, the newly elected Premier rejected outright the concept of having a cabinet portfolio monopolized by a specific sect.

Seniora was initially inclined to name Marwan Hamadeh, a Druze, for the Foreign Ministry, but both Amal and Hizbollah vetoed, insisting the portfolio should go to a Shiite of their collective choice. This made Seniora offer the post to elder statesman Fouad Butros, a Greek Orthodox, according to An Nahar.

Butros, who is in his 80s and who held the Foreign Ministry in many governments since Lebanon's 1943 independence, has accepted Seniora's offer. Seniora is reportedly resolved to name Marwan Hamadeh for the Interior Ministry.

Hizbullah MP Mohammad Raad said that it was now "about time the party participated directly, and not just through allies, in the decision making process."

If Hizbullah's demand is met, it would mark the first time the resistance party has formally taken part in Lebanon's government. The move is likely to further complicate international calls for its disarmament.

Justice top priority for Hariri

Hariri insists on retaining control over the Justice Ministry because of its role in both the local and international investigation into the assassination of his father, former Premier Rafik Hariri.

Speaking after a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Butros Sfeir, Hariri said the Justice Ministry was "of great significance to us."

He said: "There is the assassination of Rafik Hariri, and this is a very sensitive issue for us, which makes this ministry important for us."

Aoun dismissed Hariri's reasoning: "That is not convincing. The investigations into the assassination of late Premier Hariri are the responsibility of an international team. It has nothing to do with the Justice Ministry."

Hariri is expected to keep the current Justice Minister, Khaled Qabbani, in place. As of today, it has been 142 days, and we're still waiting for "The Truth". A new Justice Minister would have shaken things up, which could be what Lebanon needs to break out of the plague of corruption.

Aoun was rumored to have earmarked Lebanese legal expert and former Judge Youssef Khoury for the Justice post. His decision not to take part in the new Cabinet means Siniora will now be able to form a government made up mainly from Hariri's opposition coalition.

This means the anti-Syrian opposition will have the crucial two-thirds majority vote in Cabinet which allows it to veto any decisions taken by Lebanon's pro-Syrian president Emile Lahoud.

On Tuesday the Beirut media speculated as to whether Lahoud may veto the new Cabinet if Aoun's FPM is not represented: "The new government has to emanate from the balances determined by the legislative elections. All components of the new parliament have to be represented in the government."

Asked about Lahoud's reported stance, Aoun said "that is his affair, not mine."

The withdrawal of the FPM from the new Cabinet means that Aoun will not be the next Minister of Defense. The position is currently held by pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud's son-in-law, Elias Murr.

"Positive Cooperation"

Despite the failure to reach an agreement, Aoun and Hariri said they will maintain what they called "positive cooperation" in Parliament.

Aoun said: "We all want Lebanon's best interest at the end of the day."

He added: "We don't have to work from within the Cabinet to implement our reforms program. There should be opposition, and this is how democratic regimes work."

Seniora called Aoun to express interest in fulfilling the General's reform package: "I have met you three times since my designation ... I wanted to contact you to assure you that as far as reform is concerned you can consider me your personal representative and that of your program in the government."

Seniora also expressed his determination to "seriously cooperate with your bloc in everything related to the reform program in the future stage and I am grateful for your intention to cooperate objectively with the government despite your decision to stay out of it."

Aoun and Jumblatt exchange jabs

Aoun expressed his displeasure with the task at hand, "the government has been blown apart before its formation ... The formation of the new government does not concern me any longer.

"Someone is assuming tutelage over the majority camp, blocking a Hariri agreement to let the justice ministry go to me," the General said. Asked who this someone is, Aoun said "I am not going to name him but the press have been giving an account whereby (Walid Jumblatt's) Progressive Socialist party has been portrayed as imposing trusteeship over the majority bloc."

"We are not going to surrender our heads to him," Aoun said, clearly referring to Jumblatt. The General said those who sabotaged his accord with Hariri "have corruption files that they fear we will open if I take the justice ministry."

Jumblatt responded, "The talk we are hearing nowadays about (corruption) files reminds us of Rustom Ghazaleh and Anjar and the orders that used to come at the time to Lahoud and former Justice Minister Adnan Addoum to open or close dossiers."

He continued with a challenge, "I would suggest that the entire cabinet ministries be offered to Aoun in order to see what he would do. Let us put an end to extortion," insisting that Aoun's bloc in parliament should not be eyed as solely representing the Christian community.

Sources: Ya Libnan, , Naharnet, Daily Star