Region | Palestinian Territories
Syria demands for greater Hezbollah representation
Arab foreign ministers have rejected Syrias request that Hezbollah and its allies have greater representation in Lebanon's Cabinet.
- Agencies
- Published: 09:44 January 28, 2008
Cairo: Arab foreign ministers have rejected Syria's request that Hezbollah gets greater representation in Lebanon's Cabinet.
Syria is pushing for 10 ministers in the next Cabinet or one-third of the seats which would effectively give the Hezbollah-led opposition veto power.
Majority of the ministers at the Arab League meeting rejected Syrian Foreign Ministerial Moallem's request for a new formula for Lebanese politics.
Lebanon is involved in its worst political crisis since the end of the 1975-90 civil war. It has been without a president since November 23.
On Sunday, seven people were killed in Beirut during riots by opposition supporters protesting the government's rationing of electricity.
Arab League Chief Amr Moussa predicted further violence in Lebanon if the country did not elect a new president by February 11, as announced by parliament last week.
The Arab League chief put particular blame for the crisis on pro-Syrian groups in Lebanon, saying they intentionally held up the elections with new demands.
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