BEIRUT, Oct 26 (AFP) - Lebanese prime minister-designate Omar Karameh formed a new 30-member pro-Syrian cabinet Tuesday, including two women for the first time in Lebanon's history.
Karameh was named last week after the shock resignation of billionaire prime minister Rafiq Hariri over a political and diplomatic dispute about Syria's influence in Lebanon's affairs.
Officials said the job of interior minister was given to Sleiman Frangieh, one of the strongest allies of the regime in neighbouring Syria, the main power broker in Lebanon.
The defense and foreign ministries were also entrusted to close Syrian allies, Abdul Rahim Mrad and Mahmud Hammud respectively.
Economist and former government minister Elias Saba was named finance minister in a country suffering from a debt in excess of 35 billion dollars.
Layla Solh, daughter of former prime minister Riad Solh and aunt of billionaire Saudi prince Walid bin Talal, was named indstry minister of industry, while Wafaa Hamza, a Shiite Muslim close to influential parliament speaker Nabih Berri, was named minister of state.
The announcement came after a meeting between President Emile Lahoud, Karameh and Berri at the presidential palace followed almost a week of consultations.
10/26/2004 14:51 GMT - AFP