PM-designate Saad Hariri’s cabinet line-up gave five ministries – four portfolios plus one state ministry – to the Free Patriotic Movement and four seats to women, media reports said Tuesday.
Here is a list of names with sectarian divisions:

Sunnis: Raya Haffar al-Hassan for the finance ministry, Mohammed Safadi, Tammam Salam, Assaad Harmoush (Jamaa Islamiyah), Ghaleb Mahmasani from the president’s share, in addition to Hariri.

Maronites: Ziad Baroud, Joe Sarkis (the LF), Sami Gemayel (Phalange), Farid Elias al-Khazen and Alain Aoun (FPM) and Vera Yammine (Marada).

Shiites: Mohammed Jawad Khalifeh, Yassine Jaber or Jihad Murtada and a third for Amal movement, Mohammed Fneish and Hussein al-Hajj Hassan (Hizbullah) and Adnan al-Sayyed Hussein from the president’s share.

Druze: Ghazi Aridi for the telecommunications or public works (if it wasn’t given to an FPM representative), Wael Abou Faour for the displaced and Akram Sheyyab as state minister.

Catholics: Michel Pharaon from the majority, Edgard Maalouf (FPM) and Judge Micheline Breidy from the president’s share.

Orthodox: Elias Murr, Imad Wakim, Tareq Mitri and Atef Majdalani.

Armenians: Jean Oghassabian and Hagop Pakradounian (who might get the labor ministry).

An Nahar said that the FPM got the following cabinet seats:
The public works ministry for Alain Aoun
The education ministry for Farid Elias al-Khazen
The culture ministry for Edgard Maalouf
The labor ministry for Hagop Pakradounian
State minister for Vera Yammine

U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice said Wednesday that Washington was looking forward to the outcome of cabinet formation in Lebanon.
“We very much await the formation of a new government in Lebanon. That’s obviously work for the people and the government of Lebanon to do. And we look forward to the outcome,” she said in response to a question by An Nahar’s reporter during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York.

Also asked about a possible meeting on the sidelines of the General Assembly between Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and U.S. President Barack Obama, Rice said: “I’m not able to make any announcements today about a potential meeting related to the Middle East on the margins of the General Assembly.”

Rice also challenged Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to behave himself during his upcoming first-ever U.N. visit.

Rice, speaking as the incoming president of the U.N. Security Council this month, cited broad U.S. anger over Libya’s enthusiastic homecoming for Abdel Baset al-Megrahi, the only man convicted in the 1988 bombing of a Pan Am jet over Lockerbie, Scotland.

Gadhafi is among the world leaders expected to attend the 192-nation U.N. General Assembly and possibly other high-level meetings in late September, including a U.S.-sponsored session on nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament to be held by the 15-nation Security Council and chaired by Obama.

Rice also said she was assured by her counterparts at the Libyan U.N. mission “that their intention is to confine their program to New York City.”

Gadhafi had wanted to stay during at Libya’s 2-hectare estate in Englewood, New Jersey, and pitch a ceremonial Bedouin-style tent to entertain guests. He decided to stay in New York amid rising opposition to a visit by Englewood residents and officials.(AP-Naharnet)

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri met with Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil on Wednesday to discuss obstacles facing a Cabinet lineup.
Bassil was assigned by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to talk with Hariri during his travel abroad.

Hariri and Aoun met at Baabda Palace on Monday in the first direct meeting between the two sides and both men pledged to continue talks despite the “many difficulties.”

Bassil left Qoreitem on Wednesday without making any statement.

The daily As-Safir had said the talks will focus on two proposals for a new government – key ministers and a Cabinet of political leaders.

Hariri’s office on Tuesday, however, denied reports published by As-Safir and Al-Akhbar that the premier-designate had made new offers to Aoun.

The parliamentary majority and the Opposition had agreed on a 15-10-5 Cabinet makeup which grants the majority 15 ministers, the Opposition 10 and President Michel Suleiman 5, guaranteeing the president the tipping vote.

As-Safir said Wednesday Hariri is expected to share his views with Bassil regarding the new proposals for a Cabinet lineup.

Al-Liwaa newspaper, for its part, said Bassil’s visit to Qoreitem is to follow up on ideas for a Cabinet makeup discussed by Hariri and Aoun is Baabda.