PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENT WITH CABINET MINISTERS.




Initials DHC/VS/AS/PC



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Background: A NEW FOUR-MAN CABINET HAS BEEN FORMED IN THE LEBANON, FOLLOWING THE WITHDRAWAL OF PRESIDENT CHARLES HELOU'S DECISION TO RESIGN. LEBANESE PRIME MINISTER DR. ABDULLAH AL-YAFI FORMED THE NEW GOVERNMENT THIS WEEK AFTER EIGHT DAYS OF CABINET CRISIS.

THE PRESIDENT RESIGNED AT THE WEEKEND, BUT LATER WITHDREW THE RESIGNATION AFTER STRONG PRESSURE FROM PARLIAMENTARY DEPUTIES.

PRESIDENT HELOU'S RESIGNATION WAS ORIGINALLY BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE CABINET CRISIS WHICH BEGAN ON OCTOBER 12, WHEN THREE NEWLY-APPOINTED MINISTERS REFUSED TO SERVE IN A CABINET WHICH DR. AL-YAFI HAD FORMED. THE THREE MINISTERS TURNED DOWN THEIR APPOINTMENTS WITHIN HOURS OF THEIR ANNOUNCEMENT, SAYING THEY WANTED TO SEE A MORE BROADLY GOVERNMENT.

THE NEW CABINET NOW NAMED BY PRESIDENTIAL DECREE IS:
DR. AL-YAFI, PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF FINANCE, INFORMATION, SOCIAL AFFAIRS AND EDUCATION.

MR. HUSSEIN AL-OWEINI, FOREIGN MINISTER AND MINISTER OF DEFENCE, JUSTICE AND ECONOMY.

MR. PIERRE GEMAYEL, MINISTER OF INTERIOR, TOURISM, HEALTH AND POST, TELEGRAPHS AND TELEPHONES.

MR. RAYMOND EDDE, MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, WATER RESOURCES, PLANNING AND AGRICULTURE.