Arab League Offers to Mediate to Solve Dilemma of Forming Lebanese Government  

The Arab League (AL) said today, Tuesday that it is ready to mediate in the crisis of forming the Lebanese government.

Lebanon's President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri are still at odds over the new government.

The Arab League   called on all political factions in Lebanon to prioritize the   national interest and work quickly to end the political stalemate that exacerbates the suffering of the Lebanese people."

Ambassador Hossam Zaki, Assistant Secretary-General, stated that "the Secretary-General, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, feels great concern due to the debates in the political arena in Lebanon, fearing the country is sliding towards a severe crisis, its features are now clearly visible."

Zaki said, "I renew the Arab League's readiness to do whatever it is asked of to bridge the current gap, to reach an agreed-upon equation that enables the Prime Minister-designate to form his government without obstruction, in accordance with the French initiative, which was endorsed by the League Council at its last meeting on March 3.

Zaki added that the government must work with the skill of specialists to save Lebanon from its current crisis by implementing necessary reforms that meet the aspirations and demands of the Lebanese people.

The crisis in forming the Lebanese government returned to square zero, as Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced yesterday, that no agreement was reached with Leban's President Michel Aoun regarding it after the latter adhered to the blocking third.

After a quick meeting with Aoun in the presidential palace, Hariri said, "President Aoun sent me yesterday a government formation that includes a sectarian distribution of ministries and asked me to drop names on them, and this paper includes a third of his political team.

He added that he submitted his formation to the president 100 days ago and he is ready for any modifications.

Hariri went on to say that he seeks to facilitate a solution for the president with regard to the (Ministry) of the Interior, but he insists on the blocking third."