A committee of Lebanon's new Hezbollah-dominated government finally agreed Wednesday on a posture toward the UN-backed tribunal probing the murder of former premier Rafiq Hariri that is expected to indict members of the Shiite militant group, an minister said.
The deal, about which no details were given, came only after seven meetings of the special panel to discuss the matter and on the heels of warnings by the speaker of parliament that Prime Minister Najib Mikati's government would collapse if it did not draft a political programme by July 13.
The Hariri clause was the only remaining element preventing the completion of the programme.
"The final version of the government's general political programme was approved, and the cabinet will review it and approve it tomorrow (Thursday), Energy Minister Gibran Bassil told journalists.
The programme will then be submitted to parliament for approval.
Earlier, an official in parliament speaker Nabih Berri's office told AFP that, "according to the Lebanese constitution, when you form a cabinet you have 30 days to present a policy statement to parliament.
"If that does not take place, the cabinet automatically collapses."
Berri -- a Hezbollah ally -- said that under the constitution, parliament would have to begin consultations on naming a new prime minister if the Mikati government failed to publish its programme by July 13.
The drafting committee had held six meetings to try to finalise the programme but repeatedly ducked the divisive issue of cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which has been investigating the 2005 assassination of Hariri.
The court is expected to issue indictments against members of Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah over the killing.
Hezbollah, which leads the majority bloc in parliament, wants the new government to cut all ties with the tribunal, and Lebanon's previous government collapsed in a feud over the court.
Observers say that Mikati, a Sunni billionaire businessman, has baulked at Hezbollah's demand.
Mikati reiterated on Wednesday his belief that his cabinet programme should "take into account the interests of Lebanon" without neglecting international resolutions, adding that he would take "the necessary action" should his government fail to meet the deadline.
"I will not get involved in arguments over the constitution," Mikati told reporters in response to a question.
"What is certain is that if we do not finalise the ministerial statement by the constitutional deadline, I will take measures that reflect my respect for the constitution and the nation."
The Hariri clause was the only remaining element preventing the completion of the programme.
"The final version of the government's general political programme was approved, and the cabinet will review it and approve it tomorrow (Thursday), Energy Minister Gibran Bassil told journalists.
The programme will then be submitted to parliament for approval.
Earlier, an official in parliament speaker Nabih Berri's office told AFP that, "according to the Lebanese constitution, when you form a cabinet you have 30 days to present a policy statement to parliament.
"If that does not take place, the cabinet automatically collapses."
Berri -- a Hezbollah ally -- said that under the constitution, parliament would have to begin consultations on naming a new prime minister if the Mikati government failed to publish its programme by July 13.
The drafting committee had held six meetings to try to finalise the programme but repeatedly ducked the divisive issue of cooperation with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which has been investigating the 2005 assassination of Hariri.
The court is expected to issue indictments against members of Iranian- and Syrian-backed Hezbollah over the killing.
Hezbollah, which leads the majority bloc in parliament, wants the new government to cut all ties with the tribunal, and Lebanon's previous government collapsed in a feud over the court.
Observers say that Mikati, a Sunni billionaire businessman, has baulked at Hezbollah's demand.
Mikati reiterated on Wednesday his belief that his cabinet programme should "take into account the interests of Lebanon" without neglecting international resolutions, adding that he would take "the necessary action" should his government fail to meet the deadline.
"I will not get involved in arguments over the constitution," Mikati told reporters in response to a question.
"What is certain is that if we do not finalise the ministerial statement by the constitutional deadline, I will take measures that reflect my respect for the constitution and the nation."
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