1.
GV Parliament building TILT DOWN TO entrance with guards outside
0.10

2.
GV INT New cabinet stands
0.13

3.
MV PAN Members of new cabinet
0.26

4.
SV ZOOM INTO SCU New Premier Saeb Salam speaking
0.45

5.
SV Newspaper and reporters TILT UP TO LV Cabinet
0.53

6.
STV ZOOM OUT TO TV New cabinet seated
1.00



Initials JB/DW/MH/1504 JB/DW/MH/1518



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Lebanon's new cabinet of young "technocrats" has held its first meeting in Beirut. The cabinet includes lawyers, engineers, doctors and university professors who all come from outside the Lebanese parliament.

Only the Premier, Mr. Saeb Salam, was a member of parliament.

The choice of these politically unknown specialists caused surprise and some anger in political circles.

The cabinet was seeking a vote of confidence from Lebanon's single house of parliament. Initially most groups in the 99-seat parliament indicated they would support the new cabinet under certain conditions. Most said they would require proof that the cabinet would carry out certain demands made by groups of members.

If the cabinet fails to get the vote of confidence it will probably mean new elections in Lebanon.