Salam, Berri Discuss Cabinet Paralysis

Prime Minister Tammam Salam telephoned Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday night to discuss the latest developments after the government entered a stage of paralysis.

Local dailies said Friday that Berri was asked if the cabinet would remain paralyzed over a dispute on the appointment of security and military officials.

The speaker replied: “It depends on how the issue will resolved.”

“PM Salam is still deliberating, the same way I did when they paralyzed the parliament,” he said.

The government plunged in a further crisis on Thursday when it failed to agree on the appointments of high-ranking security and military figures.

Following the cabinet session, Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq issued a decree effectively extending the term of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous for two more years.

His move prompted Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil, who is a member of the Free Patriotic Movement, to warn that FPM ministers would block any cabinet decision before security appointments are made.

FPM chief MP Michel Aoun has bluntly rejected any attempt to extend the terms of the officials.

He has been lobbying for political consensus on the appointment of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz as army chief as part of a package for the appointment of other top security officers.

Roukoz is his son-in-law.

G.K.

H.K.