NASRI MAALOUF LEAVING PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS; RENE MOUAWAD AND MAJID ARSLAN; ADEL OSSEIRAN TALKING TO REPORTER: KHATCHIK BASIKIAN LEAVING BUILDING: OTHMAN DANA: NASSIM MAJDALANI: RASHID KARAMI TALKING TO REPORTER.




Initials EH/CR/SS



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Background: THE ABSENCE YESTERDAY (THURSDAY) OF TWO MINISTERIAL NOMINEES FROM THE FIRST GATHERING OF THE NEW LEBANESE GOVERNMENT INDICATED A RIFT WHICH TODAY LED TO SPECULATION ABOUT FURTHER RESIGNATIONS AND CRISES. PIERRE GEMAYEL AND RAYMOND EDDE (NOMINEES FOR THE POSTS OF FINANCE MINISTER AND MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS RESPECTIVELY) LEADERS OF THE RIGHT-WING PHALANGIST AND NATIONAL BLOC PARTIES, WHO ABSENTED THEMSELVES FROM THE MEETING, ANNOUNCED LAST NIGHT THAT THEY WERE WITHDRAWING FROM THE COALITION CABINET. THEY ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN UPSET BY THE EXCLUSION FROM THE CABINET OF THEIR POLITICAL ALLY, THE NATIONAL LIBERAL PARTY.

PRIME MINISTER RASHID KARAMI, WHO FORMED HIS NEW 16 MAN CABINET ON WEDNESDAY AFTER A WEEK OF NEGOTIATIONS, BRAVED YESTERDAY'S IMPASSE WITH THE CLAIM THAT HIS PROGRAMME WAS ALL-IMPORTANT AND THAT IT HAD POPULAR SUPPORT; IT CALLS FOR STRONGER DEFENCE MEASURES AND ALIGNS THE COUNTRY FIRMLY WITH THE ARAB LEAGUE.

PRESENT AT YESTERDAY'S CABINET MEETING WERE - IN ADDITION TO THE PRIME MINISTER-NASRI MAALOUF, MINISTER FOR TOURISM; RENE MOUAWAD, MINISTER OF LABOUR AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS; MAJID ARSLAN, MINISTER OF DEFENCE; ADEL OSSETRAN, MINISTER OF INTERIOR; KHATCHIK BABIKIAN, MINISTER OF HEALTH; OTHMAN DANA, MINISTER OF HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER, NASSIM MAJDALANI, DEPUTY PREMIER AND MINISTER OF ECONOMY.

TODAY, THE PRIME MINISTER SAID THAT EFFORTS WERE STILL BEING MADE TO REMOVE THE DIFFICULTIES PREVENTING THE DISSIDENT MINISTERIAL NOMINEES FROM TAKING UP THEIR POSTS.

RASHID KARAMI IS LEADER OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRATIC FRONT, THE BIGGEST GROUP IN PARLIAMENT; HE ALSO ENJOYS THE SUPPORT OF INDEPENDENTS AND OF THE PROGRESSIVE SOCIALIST PARTY, WHICH IS REPRESENTED IN THE COALITION.

THE PHALANGIST PARTY HAS NINE MEMBERS IN THE 99-MEMBER PARLIAMENT, THE NATIONAL BLOC SIX, AND THE NATIONAL LIBERALS AND THEIR ALLIES 13.

(RASHID KARAMI SUCCEEDS DR. ABDULLAH AL-YAFI WHOSE CABINET RESIGNED LAST WEEK AFTER CRITICISM OF ITS HANDLING OF THE ISRAELI COMMANDO RAID ON BEIRUT AIRPORT ON 28 DECEMBER).