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New premier expects formation of new government within 24 hours
 Newly-appointed Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Al-Sanioura said on Monday that a new government would be formed within the next 24 hours. Al-Sanioura, speaking to journalists after a meeting with the secretary general of the supreme Syrian-Lebanese council, Nasri Al-Khouri, for discussing the stranding of trucks at a Syrian-Lebanese border checkpoint, indicated that he was taking his time in the formation of the executive council to ensure that the government members would be qualified to handle the country's issues and thorny problems. The premier said he would visit Syria after formation of the cabinet. "We are proud of this approach and such a gesture bolsters the ties between the Syrian and Lebanese peoples," he said.Al-Sanioura indicated that many trucks, loaded with commodities, have been stranded at the Syrian-Lebanese Al-Masnaa checkpoint due to security precautions. The new premier, who hails from the southern port city of Sidon, was picked up by majority of members of the 128-seat parliament, succeeding a care-taking government of Neguib Mikati, from the northern city of Tripoli, Lebanon's second largest city. The Lebanese media and press have been reporting squabbles among some the country's mainstream political trends and coalitions over distribution of the government seats, with much of the disputes focusing on the justice and foreign affairs posts. Posted by: Fred 2005-07-12 |
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