1.
GV EXT PALACE
0.06

2.
SV RAYMOND EDDIE ENTERS
0.11

3.
SV ABDULLAH YAFI ARRIVES
0.21

4.
SV YEYMAYEL WALKS OUT
0.24

5.
GV PRESSMEN TALK TO YAFI
0.27

6.
SV YAFI SPEAKING TO PRESSMEN
0.35

7.
SV CAMERAMEN
0.40

8.
SV DEPUTY SHEIK KHALIL WALKS OUT
0.45

9.
CV SHABRI HAMADEH ZOOM OUT TO GROUP MAJID ARSCAN (LEFT) OF PICTURE IN FEZ) PAN TO OTHERS IN GROUP
0.59

10.
CV SHABRI HAMADEH SPEAKING TO PRESS
1.04

11.
SV PRESSMEN MAKE NOTES
1.09

12.
SV KAMEL ASSAD (EX SPEAKER) WALKS ROUND CAR & INTO PALACE
1.14

13.
SV NAZIM NAJDALA, (DEPUTY) ENTERS PALACE
1.18

14.
SV KAMEL JUMBLATT (THIN MOUSTACHE) ENTERING PALACE
1.25

15.
SV PIERRE JAYMAYEL ENTERING FOLLOWED BY SULLEMAN FRANJEIH
1.31

16.
SV OSMAN DANA SPEAKS TO PRESS
1.36



Initials DHC/VS/AS/SS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PREMIER-DESIGNATE RASHID KARAMI OF LEBANON WAS LAST NIGHT HOLDING FINAL TALKS WITH PARLIAMENTARY LEADERS IN BEIRUT, THE NATIONAL CAPITAL, BEFORE NAMING A NEW GOVERNMENT. MR. KARAMI REPORTED TO PRESIDENT CHARLES HELOU LAST NIGHT ON HIS TALKS WITH VARIOUS POLITICAL GROUPS IN PARLIAMENT. PRESIDENT HELOU ASKED MR. KARAMI TO FORM A NEW GOVERNMENT ON WEDNESDAY, AFTER ACCEPTING THE RESIGNATION OF THE FOUR-MAN CABINET LED BY DR. ABDULLAH YAFI.

THE BIGGEST POLITICAL GROUP IN SUPPORT OF MR. KARAMI, THE DEMOCRATIC PARLIAMENTARY FRONT, HAS PLEDGED ITS BACKING FOR A NEW CABINET ON CONDITION THAT THE ARMY IS STRENGTHENED ON THE BORDER WITH ISRAEL AND COMPULSORY MILITARY SERVICE IS INTRODUCED. THE RESIGNATION OF THE LAST GOVERNMENT WAS PROVOKED BY CRITICISM FOLLOWING ITS HANDLING OF THE ISRAELI RAID ON BEIRUT AIRPORT. MEMBERS OF THE CABINET CALLED AT THE PRESIDENTIAL PALACE ON WEDNESDAY TO HAND IN THEIR RESIGNATIONS.

MR. KARAMI, A 47-YEAR-OLD BACHELOR, HAS BEEN PRIME MINISTER OF THE LEBANON FIVE TIMES. HE IS THE SON OF THE LATE HAMID KARAMI A FORMER PREMIER, AND ONE OF THE "FATHERS" OF LEBANESE INDEPENDENCE.