By Xinhua,
Beirut : The formation of the Lebanese national unity government is in the final stage, and is expected to be announced within 48 hours, local Daily Star reported Monday.
“Significant progress was made between pro-government and opposition parties following a meeting between Prime Minister Fouad Seniora and Christian opposition leader MP Michel Aoun”, the report said.
News reports said that opposition leader Michel Aoun took five portfolios out of the 11 for the opposition.
The five portfolios for Aoun are: telecommunication, social affairs, energy, agriculture and deputy prime minister.
The Doha agreement reached on May 21 gave the opposition 11 seats, the majority 16 and 3 appointed by the president.
The delay in the formation of the cabinet, which was supposed to be reached during the weekend, is due to inter-majority party’s differences over the distribution of the remaining portfolios, the report said.
The daily added that the final government line-up would be decided once majority leader MP Saad Hariri returns to Beirut.
Rival Lebanese leaders were locked in differences for more than six weeks over the distribution of key portfolios in the new cabinet.