Militia chief rejects post

Press, 2 May 1984, Page 8

Militia chief rejects post

NPZA-Reuter Beirut The refusal of a Muslim leader to take part in a national unity Cabinet named by Lebanon’s new Prime Minister, Rashid Karami, has cast doubt on its future. Nabeh Berri, chief of the Shi’ite Muslim militia Amal, said that he had refused to serve in the Cabinet of five Muslims and five Christians because the posts offered to him and his allies in the opposition to the President, Mr Amin Gemayel, had been “unconnected with political decision-making.” Mr Karami named Mr Berri as Minister for Justice, and Water and Electricity. He offered Mr Bern’s Druse Muslim ally, Walid Jumblatt, the portfolios of Public Works, Transport, and Tourism. Mr Karami, a Sunni Muslim favoured by Syria, read out the Cabinet list yesterday at the Presidential Palace after long talks with Mr Gemayel. Soon afterwards a Staterun news agency published formal decrees by Mr Gemayel accepting the resignation of the Prime Minister, Shafik Wazzan, and appointing Mr Karami to replace him.

Mr Berri was the only person on the Cabinet list to react immediately. The others will have to clarify their positions by today, the date Mr Karami set for the Cabinet’s first session. Apart from Mr Berri and Mr Jumblatt, Mr Karami nominated two other important factional leaders — the President’s father, Pierre, who also heads the powerful Christian Falange party, and his ally, a former President, Camille Chamoun. Pierre Gemayel has said that he would prefer to stay out of the Cabinet and Mr Chamoun makes no secret of his dislike for Mr Karami. The two head the Lebanese Front, a coalition of Christian parties, which said before yesterday’s announcement that it would decide today whether to approve of Mr Karmai’s Cabinet.