March 8 Fears U.S. Sanctions if Cabinet Not Up to Par with its Conditions
The March 8 leadership has expressed fear that the U.S. would impose sanctions on Lebanese officials if the new cabinet did not abide by U.S. conditions, al-Liwaa daily reported Tuesday.
The newspaper quoted informed sources as saying that the U.S. continues to veto an attempt to put the justice ministry within the share of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun in the government.
The justice ministry is essential for the continued cooperation between Lebanese authorities and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that will try ex-Premier Rafik Hariri’s suspected assassins.
Last week, al-Liwaa said that Washington has informed parties involved in the formation of the government that it had “vetoed” giving Hizbullah and its allies, including Aoun, four main portfolios - interior, defense, justice and telecommunications.
But U.S. Embassy Spokesman Ryan Gliha had denied the report, telling Naharnet that the U.S. considers the makeup of Lebanon’s government to be strictly a Lebanese decision.
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