Baroud Refrains from Being Reappointed as Minister

Caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud announced on Saturday that he had informed President Michel Suleiman three months ago of his intention not to be reappointed as a minister.

He added: “I will not allow myself to stand as an obstacle in the government formation process as the media has been lately trying to demonstrate.”

“I requested from Suleiman that I not be granted the Interior Ministry portfolio in the new government, or any other portfolio,” he continued.

“I am not shying away from my responsibilities, especially since I have fully assumed my duties despite the hardships, most notably in organizing the parliamentary elections during severe political divisions in Lebanon,” he said.

“There are several qualified individuals in Lebanon who should be given the opportunity to assume this role,” the minister stressed.

Meanwhile, political sources monitoring the government formation process asserted that the Interior Ministry portfolio should remain as a sovereign portfolio, especially during the election period in Lebanon.

“Will Baroud stepping down end the dispute over the government formation? Was the Interior Ministry portfolio the only obstacles?” they wondered.

They added however that progress is being achieved, “even if nothing has materialized.”

In a related development, An Nahar reported on Sunday that Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji suggested the names of four high-ranking officers to Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati as possible candidates to assume the Interior Ministry.

Sources told the pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat in remarks published on Sunday that General Paul Matar, the deputy for army planning, is among the names suggested by Qahwaji.

They stated: “Matar enjoys a good relationship with Suleiman, but the latter does not believe that the dispute over the Interior Ministry is the only obstacle facing the government formation. He will voice his opinion on the matter when a Cabinet structure is presented to him.”