Hizbullah, Amal Break Ice with Salam but Differences Linger

Caretaker Health Minister Ali Hassan Khalil and the Hizbullah leader's adviser, Hussein Khalil, have held talks with Premier-designate Tammam Salam, a positive sign that the March 8 alliance resumed its consultations on the new cabinet.

An Nahar and al-Joumhouria dailies said Friday that the two officials visited Salam at his residence in Msaitbeh, the first meeting between the two sides in several months.

The caretaker Health Minister is the adviser of Speaker Nabih Berri, who is the head of Amal movement that is allied with Hizbullah.

The talks that took place on Wednesday focused on the efforts exerted by the PM-designate to come up with a line-up since his appointment in April.

Al-Joumhouria quoted March 8 sources as saying that Salam reiterated to his visitors that he was holding onto the formation of a neutral and non political cabinet to lead the transitional stage that ends with the election of a new president.

But the Hizbullah and Amal officials made it clear to Salam that the March 8 alliance is united in its stance to form a national unity cabinet in which it would get nine ministers along with the March 14 camp and centrists six.

The officials said such a government paves way for a political dialogue between the rival parties to resolve the country's crises.

The visit of the Hizbullah and Amal envoys to Msaitbeh came amid a similar meeting held between Salam and an adviser to President Michel Suleiman, al-Joumhouria said.

Suleiman and Salam have agreed to form a government that does not provoke any party.

But several Hizbullah officials have warned against the dangers of forming a fait accompli cabinet.