By Joseph Kechichian, Senior Writer

Beirut: The Lebanese government failed to agree on how best to move along after a difficult two-hour long meeting although the Prime Minister upheld the constitution and embarked on fresh negotiations to settle lingering disputes. He did not resign and pledged to call a new meeting on Friday after he and the Speaker, Nabih Berri, return from their visit to Cairo.

According to several ministers who spoke after their latest session, the defense minister proposed three names from which to choose a successor to the army chief of staff, Major-General Walid Salman, whose terms ends on August 7. None of the prospective candidates gained the cabinet’s backing though it was unclear whether an actual voting occurred. In the event, Defense Minister Samir Moqbel stressed that he would abide by the regulations granted him under the law, and was expected to issue a decree that would extend the officer’s term.

The news blackout that surrounded Wednesday’s session did not prevent leaks, which highlighted the existence of sharp differences that, as expected, resurfaced between members over the cabinet “working mechanism.” Sources close to the Cabinet confirmed that Salam was disappointed that progress on key items was, once again, postponed as the country confronted various health and environmental crises.

Beirut’s “garbage-gate”, now in its third week, continued to preoccupy decision-makers as an effort was made to find a long-term solution. A small percentage of the accumulated refuse was collected from major intersections even if they were only trucked away to temporary storage spots. Interminable discussions around an export mechanism were under way, and the cabinet spokesperson affirmed that a proposal would be made within 2 to 3 days, ostensibly to send the garbage to Germany where modern facilities existed to transform the waste into electricity. Not a single official proposed the construction of such a factory in Lebanon, however, even if environmental experts foresaw the urgent need for one.