4 out of 5 in Lebanon fell into poverty
Disagreements between Lebanon's leaders during the visit of the Secretary-General of the United Nations
Guterres (left) meets with Mikati in an attempt to resolve differences between the Lebanese parties.
Reuters
A new attempt to convene the paralyzed Lebanese government hit a snag yesterday as ruling politicians sparred over the terms of a possible deal even as visiting United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged a bandwidth for the national interest.
Guterres arrived on Sunday to garner international support for the troubled country, urging its leaders to tackle a financial meltdown caused by decades of corruption and mismanagement, many of which have overseen.
And a United Nations agency reported that the crisis, now in its third year, has led to the fall of four out of every five in Lebanon into poverty.
But despite the statements made by Guterres, the day before yesterday, after meetings with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Mikati, that he sensed good intentions, a new attempt to convene the Cabinet faltered.
The Lebanese government, which is focused on talks with the International Monetary Fund for much-needed foreign aid, has not met since October 12, amid a row over an investigation into last year's port explosion.
Iran-backed Hezbollah and its ally, the Amal Movement, led by Nabih Berri, stipulated the dismissal of Tariq al-Bitar, the judge investigating the explosion, whom they accused of bias, in order to return to the cabinet sessions.
Al-Bitar sought to interrogate two senior members of the "Amal" movement, who were charged with the explosion, in addition to a group of senior politicians and security officials.
Mikati Berri visited after Guterres met separately with each of them.
Mikati left the brief meeting with Berri, apparently frustrated, as he pushed a reporter out of his way.
When asked about a possible agreement to reconvene the Council of Ministers to remove Al-Bitar, he replied that the Council was not interested in that.
A source close to Berri told "Reuters", without going into details, that Berri and Mikati discussed proposals for reconvening.
In a statement issued later, Mikati admitted that he was trying to reconvene the cabinet, but added that during his meeting with Berri, he refused to “interfere in the work of the judiciary in any way, or to consider the cabinet as an arena for settlements that deal directly or by equivocation, interfering in judicial affairs absolutely. ».
Mikati said that he conveyed his position to Berri and President Michel Aoun, adding that it is an "absolutely unambiguous position."
A prominent member of the Free Patriotic Movement led by Aoun denied media reports that the movement had agreed to a proposal to reconvene the cabinet meeting, which will witness the removal of Al-Bitar.
Qadhi's ouster threatens to further damage Lebanon's relationship with Western donors, as well as with the United Nations.
Guterres visited the damaged port yesterday, where he laid a wreath at a memorial, and later called for "fair accountability" in connection with the explosion that killed more than 215 people.
• The Lebanese government, which is focused on talks with the International Monetary Fund to obtain much-needed foreign aid, has not met since October 12, amid a row over an investigation into the Beirut port explosion last year.
Follow our latest local and sports news and the latest political and economic developments via Google news