New Lebanon govt manifesto complete: minister

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

BEIRUT (AFP) — A manifesto that will allow Lebanon's new national unity government to take office was finally thrashed out on Friday after three weeks of negotiations, Information Minister Tareq Mitri said.

"We reached a consensus after a long discussion," Mitri told reporters after the ministers involved in drafting the text reached agreement on the government policy after holding 14 separate sessions.

"The committee has completed its task," Mitri said, adding that the policy statement will be submitted to the government before it goes to parliament for ratification.

The new cabinet was formed on July 11, but negotiations on a manifesto have been hampered by disputes on the key issue of the weaponry held by Hezbollah, the powerful Shiite Muslim political...