Amr Moussa, March 14, March 8 forces present reports to Arab foreign minister conference in Cairo

Moussa: Lebanese divided on govt. formation, need confidence building

March 14 forces: everyone has to bear responsibility towards the current crisis

March 8 forces say balanced solution ends impasse, electing president has to coincide with forming unified government, new election law

Arab League Secretary General said the rival Lebanese parties can reach an agreement on the new president and new election law but remain divided on government formation.

In a report presented to Arab foreign ministers, Moussa said a compromise could be reached on a constitutional mechanism to elect a unity president and draft a new electoral law.

The remaining bone of contention, he stressed, remains the distribution of cabinet shares, attributing the differences to the "lack of trust". The opposition wants a 10-10-10 formula; i.e. ten ministers for the majority, ten for the president and ten for the opposition, Moussa clarified.

The other option they are willing to accept is a third-plus-one share in the new government, he added.

Moussa stressed that in all cases, the parliamentary majority has the right to more ministerial posts in accordance to all constitutional norms, adding that equal quotas will be unlikely.

Political division in Lebanon is alarming, he warned, citing reports of arms stockpiles and preparations to take the confrontation to the streets. The Arab initiative, as to its timing and content, makes the best option for Lebanon and should not be missed, said the Arab League chief. He called on the Lebanese to elect Army Chief Michel Suleiman and give him enough support to become a symbol of national unity.

Time is not yet ripe for discussions on naming a prime minister or distributing ministerial portfolios, Moussa said, adding that these issues should follow the election of Suleiman.

He urged the Lebanese political leaders to shoulder their responsibility and behave as statesmen.

The future of Lebanon should not hinge on differences on ministerial quotas, Moussa stressed.

The March 14 forces' report:

The forces of the March 14 sent a report to the Arab League and Secretary General Amr Moussa, in which it underlined that there certain parties in Lebanon try to hamper all political efforts exerted to patch up the internal rift.

"They reject several initiatives, and the last one was the Arab initiative," the March 14 forces asserted, holding the Syrian regime responsible for hampering the initiative.

They also called to elect the Commander of the Lebanese Armed forces General Michel Suleiman as president as soon as possible, which considered a political need to end the constitutional vacuum in the country.

The report consists of the following points;

1- The March 14 forces are keen to welcome all initiatives aimed at promoting internal dialogue and patching up differences.

2- Within this context the forces welcomed the initiative launched by the House Speaker Nabih Berri, whereas the March 14 forces supported the election the Commander of the Army forces General Michel Suleiman. We also called on all political forces to end the current political vacuum.

3- The forces also welcomed the foiled French initiative and the list presented by Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfier.

4- The Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa came to Lebanon with a new initiative to elect a new president and form a national unity government. The matter the March 14 forces welcomed and announced our commitment with all conditions set by the parliament for the election of General Suleiman.

5- The forces, which agreed to leave their democratic right to nominate one of their members as a president, took another step towards ending the current impasse as they agreed not to have a parliamentary majority and commit with the equation proposed by Amr Mouusa to elect Suleiman.

6- The March 14 forces while presenting all these facts do not afraid to determine the main reason for the current impasse and we are certain that the secretary general knows it very well. We believe will not remain silent about crimes made by the Syrian system against Lebanon and its constitutional institutions.

7- Despite all tries made to destabilize Lebanon, we announce our readiness to continue defending Lebanon's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as Lebanese citizens' free will. We call on Arab foreign ministers to revive the Arab initiative.

We hope that your meeting could highlight the facts and exert more efforts towards the putting an end to the current impasse.

We urge all Lebanese to stay together in the face of the Syrian system. The Arab countries should leave no stone unturned to save Lebanon and renew the citizen's hope to their country and their constitutional institutions and their presidency.

The March 14 alliance named after the date of the Cedar Revolution, is a coalition of anti-Syrian political parties and independents in Lebanon, led by Saad Hariri, younger son of Rafik Hariri, the assassinated former prime minister of Lebanon, Samir Geagea president of the Lebanese Forces, former President Sheik Amine Gemayel and Walid Jumblatt of Progressive Socialist Party.

At the last legislative elections, May and June 2005, the alliance became the dominant group in parliament with 72 MPs out of 128. Currently the Alliance has 69 of 127 MPs because of assassinations and natural deaths.

The March 8 forces' report:

The Lebanese national oppositions (March 8 forces) sent a brief to the Arab foreign ministers, in which they expressed hope that the Arab move towards solving the Lebanese dilemma will not be biased, asserting that solving the Lebanese cause needs a complete Lebanese understanding of three main points; electing a president, forming a unified national government and a program includes an election law.

The March 8 forces is highly appreciate efforts made by Arab countries to help the Lebanese people overcome the current situation and help Lebanese political powers to reach a settlement of the current political and constitutional crisis to save Lebanon's stability and sovereignty.

"We always welcome the Arab role, because we believe that Arab countries have the ability to understand the coexistence framework in Lebanon as well as they understand Lebanon's sufferings in the past decades. The Arab role is crucial in ending the internal conflict and we value this role," the March 8 forces highlighted.

The political solution of the Lebanese crisis needs a complete understanding of three main clauses;

1- Electing a president.

2- Forming a unified national government capable of achieving the national partnership

3- A government's program includes an election law that preserves the country's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Achieving justice in the formula through the participation of all Lebanese parties is an indispensable condition to guarantee the stability in the country and the inclusion of all political forces in the decision making process.

We hope that the Arab role will not be biased to anyone so as we could achieve all expected results.

The Lebanese national opposition welcomed with every Arab effort aims at realizing understanding and putting an end to the current crisis, based on balance and participation.

As a conclusion, we have a complete trust in your efforts, based on your love to our country and your keenness to support Lebanon in the face of the Israeli aggression.

"While hailing your sincere efforts, we stress our commitment to the Arab solution based on understanding and neutralism which is capable of protecting Lebanon from foreign interferences," they added.