Fate Of Lebanese Govt In Balance

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31881, 8 January 1969, Page 11

Fate Of Lebanese Govt In Balance

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright)

BEIRUT, January 7.

The fate of the Lebanese Government, which was formed only 10 weeks ago and has been under fire since the recent Israeli attack on Beirut Airport, rests today with President Charles Helou. According to informed sources, the President is to decide whether a new National Government should be formed or the Cabinet of four appointed by the Prime Minister (Dr Abdullah Yafi) should continue in office.

Dr Yafi told reporters in Beirut last night that he had discussed the situation with President Helou, but had not submitted a formal letter of resignation; he had left the fate of the Cabinet to the President to decide.

Dr Yafi’s Government, formed on October 20, has been strongly criticised for the failure of Lebanese troops to repel the Israeli commando attack on Beirut Airport on December 28. There has been widespread dissatisfaction with the Gov-i ernment’s handling of the' situation, and recent statements by members of thej Government have been conflicting. Some Ministers have tried'

to blame each other tor not having taken measures to repel the Israeli attack and, to avoid any internal repercussions, the Government has put the Army in charge of national security and placed all the armed forces, including the police, under its command. At the same time, it has banned all demonstrations and appealed to the people to remain calm and not do I anything that would distract the Army from its main duty of defending the country against Israeli threats. But this has not prevented dissatisfaction being expressed in various forms, in-

eluding demands for an inquiry to determine who was directly responsible for the failure to repel the Israeli attack.

I Earlier Crisis Dr Yafi formed his Govern- ' ment after a crisis during , which President Helou had re- ! signed and then withdrawn ’ his resignation under pres- ' sure from various Parliament tary groups. , A few weeks later Dr Yafi , himself resigned, saying that his Cabinet was “unable to i face the present situation.” ‘ But he, too, agreed to stay on ’ after President Helou had rejected his resignation and after approaches from Parliamentary groups. Dr Yafi, who is 67, is a I (prominent lawyer and holds a doctorate from the Sorbonne University in Paris. He has headed seven Lebanese 'Governments since 1938.