Mustaqbal Movement Delegation in Jeddah for Talks with Hariri

A delegation from al-Mustaqbal movement headed to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for consultations with head of the movement former premier Saad Hariri.

The delegation will discuss with Hariri the latest developments and the stance from a possible cabinet session on Thursday, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

A row surfaced between AMAL and al-Mustaqbal over a spending decree that is threatening to delay the salaries of public employees.

Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, who is Speaker Nabih Berri's adviser, expressed fear recently that civil servants would not be paid their salaries at the end of the month because of the paralysis of parliament.

Parliament should pass draft-laws allowing the government to approve treasury loans. But lawmakers have been boycotting legislative sessions over the vacuum at the presidency.

The delegation is comprised of head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq and Nader Hariri, head of the ex-PM's office.

Consultations kicked off recently between Khalil and Nader Hariri in an attempt to bridge the gap between the two parties.

Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat made the initiative between AMAL and al-Mustaqbal to resolve the political stalemate.

Lebanon has been without a president since May, when Michel Suleiman's six-year term ended with MPs unable to find a successor over differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances on a compromise candidate.

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