By ZEINA KARAM, Associated Press Writer BEIRUT, Lebanon – Lebanon’s prime minister-designate announced his new Cabinet on Tuesday, a government dominated by opponents of Syria, although it includes a member of the militant Hezbollah group, which Washington brands a terrorist organization. The 24-member Cabinet, the first since Syria withdrew its troops from Lebanon, omits prominent Christian representation of followers of former Gen. Michel Aoun.The formation of the new Cabinet brings to an end almost three weeks of political squabbling over key posts. Pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud repeatedly demanded changes in Prime Minister-designate Fuad Saniora’s suggested lineups.Aoun, the former army commander who returned to Lebanon from 14 years of exile in France, wanted the Justice portfolio but was refused. It went instead to Lahoud ally Charles Rizk.Hezbollah’s Mohammed Fneish received the power and hydraulic resources ministry, while the militant group’s ally, Tarrad Hamadeh, retained the post of labor minister.The key Foreign Ministry went to Shiite Fawzi Salloukh after negotiations with Hezbollah and its rival Amal movement. Salloukh is a former veteran diplomat who served for more than three decades with the foreign corps. He does not belong to either group, but was acceptable to both.Saniora said he was “proud” of Fneish’s participation and promised that the Cabinet will work on improving relations with Syria, which have suffered since the withdrawal.The new administration also includes ministers close to Lahoud, including his son-in-law, former Defense Minister Elias Murr, who survived an assassination attempt on June 12. He retains the Defense portfolio.Most other posts in the Cabinet, which includes 12 Christians and 12 Muslims per Lebanon’s sectarian political system, went to members of lawmaker Saad Hariri’s Future Movement and his allies.Cardinal Nasrallah Sfeir, head of the influential Maronite Church, on Sunday refused to bless Saniora’s list because it included no Aoun supporters, Lahoud media adviser Rafik Shalala said.
Syria was forced to withdraw its troop from Lebanon following Hariri’s Feb. 14 assassination, which triggered anti-Damascus protests in Beirut. The anti-Syrian opposition blamed Syria and its agents in Lebanon for his murder, a charge Syria denies.
Lahoud had delayed the Cabinet’s formation becayse it did not include proper Christian representation.
Saniora, a former finance minister, presented Lahoud a Cabinet list on Friday that included no representatives from Aoun’s 21-member parliamentary bloc.
Lahoud apparently wanted Aoun, who lost a “war of liberation” against the Syrian army in Lebanon in 1989 before going into exile in France, included in the Cabinet and opposed some Maronite Christians put forward.
Aoun, who returned after Syria ended its 29-year military presence, also rejected Saniora’s list because none of his supporters was included.
