BEIRUT - Lebanon's pro-Syrian President Emile Lahoud met his prime minister-designate Omar Karameh on Monday, raising expectations of a long-awaited announcement on the formation of a new cabinet.
"Karameh started the meeting with the president at 4:00 pm (1300 GMT) to discuss the issue of the new government," one official told AFP.
"They will discuss a few lingering issues and we hope that they will be able to reach an agreement (on the new government)."
Outgoing environment minister Wiam Wahhab told reporters: "We are hoping that the new government will see the light in the next few hours."
Lebanon, thrown into political turmoil over the February 14 assassination of popular ex-premier Rafiq Hariri, is still waiting for a new government before the crucial parliamentary polls due to be held by the end of May.
Karameh said at the weekend that he was due to meet with Lahoud early Monday to announce the new government, but the meeting was delayed by last-minute squabbling over cabinet posts and the law to set the framework for the polls due by the end of May.
04/11/2005 13:19 GMT