After a Lebanese government was due to be formed and announced by Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam on Friday as the main obstacle on the energy portfolio was resolved, a new obstacle emerged the last minute

After a Lebanese government was due to be formed and announced by Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam on Friday as the main obstacle on the energy portfolio was resolved, a new obstacle emerged the last minute.

Salam has been officially told by March 8 coalition, in a phone call with him shortly after midnight, their rejection to a candidate nominated by Al-Mustaqbal party for the interior ministry as “provocative and unacceptable”.

According to Al-Manar sources, contacts and consultations are still ongoing to solve this obstacle under which Salam’s cabinet formation would be subject to final touches before he heads to the Baabda Palace for its announcement.

Al-Manar has learned that Speaker Nabih Berri telephoned the PM-designate, and urged him on the need to resolve the crisis on the interior ministry candidate, otherwise his formation decrees would not pass.

Berri, who constitutionally should be informed about the line-up before the announcement of the cabinet formation, is scheduled to travel Friday for eight days.