Hizbullah, Amal intervene to resolve cabinet crisis

Hizbullah and AMAL are expected to begin exerting efforts on Monday to resolve the cabinet dispute between Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement ministers, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday. The daily reported that Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's advisor Hussein Khalil began on Monday contacts “without having a solution ready.” “The issue goes beyond the dispute over the appointment of top civil servants in the state, it affects the relations among the cabinet members,” according to the newspaper. Sources close to Hizbullah urged “everyone to take their responsibilities and cooperate to overcome the impasse.” State minister Ali Qanso told al-Liwaa newspaper that the obtained information indicates that the contacts will kick off on Monday to contain the repercussions of the last cabinet session. He urged officials not to exaggerate as he expected things to go back to normal by next week. Last week, a sharp debate over the issue of civil service appointments between Prime Minister Najib Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement ministers at the Baabda Palace led the suspension of the session by the president at Miqati’s request. Miqati accused FPM leader MP Michel Aoun’s ministers of obstructing the cabinet’s work, saying he will not allow anyone to undermine the prime minister’s prerogatives. According to al-Liwaa the health minister noted that the dispute that occurred will organize the cabinet’s work so it becomes more productive. Hizbullah MP Hasan Fadlallah said that the “cabinet isn’t a mailing box used to send political messages, but it maintains the Lebanese (citizens) interests” regardless of their political views. Beirut - Naharnet