president Assad of Syria is backing Aoun’s demands on the regional level. Both Hezbollah and Syria are acting as if they want the government to be formed as soon as possible
FPM leader General Aoun is showing some optimism following the visit of his son-in-law to Syria . "We are in the last stages and on the verge of forming" the cabinet, Aoun told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in an interview to be published Saturday.
As-Safir has reported that Gebran Bassil visited yesterday Syrian Presidential Political and Media Advisor Bouthaina Shaaban to pay condolences for the death of her mother, but used the occasion to meet with key Syrian officials
As Safir also reported this morning that Syrian president Bashar al Assad has called on King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia to interfere in the government by asking PM designate Saad Hariri to offer Aoun the ministry of Energy in addition to communications ministry
While all this is going on Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly threatened to personally stage a sit-in at Parliament until a new Cabinet is announced. "The government crisis reached a stage where effective action is needed to form a government as soon as possible," Berri was quoted as telling lawmakers in Parliament.
Many are predicting that a government will be formed within days , probably as soon as an agreement is reached between Iran and the west over its nuclear installations. This is when Iran is expected to give Hezbollah the green light to go ahead with government formation
Poor Lebanon!
Friday
7:57 pm Lebanese Armed Forces begin interrogating Francop vessel’s crew after it enters Lebanese waters
7:31 pm ready to proceed with the indirect Syria-Israel talks
4:09 pm Bassil says his visit to Syria is not linked with cabinet formation
3:10 pm Hezbollah MP Ammar Moussawi says obstacles impeding cabinet formation have been resolved and that it is in the final stages of formation.
2:05pm Cabinet is expected to be formed by Saturday
12:52 pm Speaker Berri meets with UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams n Ain al-Tineh
10:34 Israel stages mock raids over areas in South Lebanon
09:58 Iran tests advanced nuclear warhead design
09:33 Pharaon says current Ministerial Statement “should be basis for addressing complicated issues”
09:28 Israel rejects UN resolution on Gaza
09:09 Israel complains to UN over Hezbollah arms it reportedly found in the seized ship
8:32 MP Yassine Jaber told VOL: Nothing prevents the quick formation of the cabinet.
8:30 Minister Elie Marouni told VOL: The cabinet could be formed either today or over the weekend after Syrian password. The Phalange will be represented by 2 ministers.
7:50 MP Michel Pharaon told VOL: Password in order to facilitate the birth of the government has arrived. The atmosphere today is positive and there is a possibility to reach a Cabinet lineup in the coming hours or days.
07:35 "al Akhbar": eight members of the Kataeb party have submitted their nominations for the membership in the Political Bureau
07:20 al Akhbar": perhaps some in Lebanon are hoping that Israel will try its luck again with the resistance
07:16 al Akhbar": FPM”s Gebran Bassil visited Damascus yesterday, accompanied by Michel Samaha
07:14 al Akhbar": the agreement over the formation of the government was finalized yesterday and it is supposed to see the light in the next few days
06:42 "as Safir : Berri will continue to call for the election of members of the commission "it is not possible for the parliament to be suspended for such a long time”, he said
06:38 "as Safir : several decisive meetings in the coming forty-eight hours and the most notable is the one between Hariri and Aoun
06:33 Hezbollah’s Nasrallah will speak on Nov 11 on the anniversary of martyrs’ day and will address the internal and regional developments
06:31 Berri visitors : intensive contacts resulted in positive developments that may lead to the birth of the government in the coming hours
06:26 opposition sources told "as Safir : Basil's visit to Syria was a purely social in nature
06:23 ""as Safir : Assad called on King Abdullah to interfere in the government formation and that the ministry of Energy in addition to communications be given to Aoun
06:09 Salloukh told An Nahar ": Clinton did not exclude me from the meeting of Arab foreign ministers
05:41 Syrian source: Israel's goal is to turn the world's attention away from the debate on "Goldstone"
05:34 "An-Nahar": Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday has reportedly threatened to personally stage a sit-in at Parliament until a new Cabinet is announced
Thursday
11:59 pm AP: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas pushed Mideast peace prospects into unknown territory Thursday, announcing he doesn't want another term and opening the way to a succession battle that could play into the hands of his rival, the militant Hamas.
11:30 pm At least 12 people were killed and 31 wounded Thursday afternoon in a shooting at a military installation in Fort Hood, Texas, according to military spokesmen.
11:00 pm The UN General Assembly approved on Thursday an Arab-backed resolution endorsing the Goldstone Report, paving the way for the matter to be sent to the Security Council
5: 30 pm AP: Israel's prime minister charged Thursday that Iran's goal was to kill as many civilians as possible by giving Hezbollah what the military said were enough weapons to extend any war against Israel for one month.
