Lebanese PM urges activation of cabinet work to solve country's crises

Beirut (Lebanon), December 6: Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday urged political parties to leave political differences aside and activate the caretaker cabinet's work to solve the issues faced by the Lebanese people.
"Let's leave politics aside; the people are suffering," Mikati said following a cabinet meeting that several ministers boycotted, according to a statement by the Council of Ministers.
The extraordinary meeting of Mikati's cabinet triggered a debate with the Free Patriotic Movement, a party founded by former President Michel Aoun, who accused the prime minister of violating the constitution by taking over the president's prerogatives.
Mikati denied these accusations, reiterating his call for the election of a new president to end the political deadlock as the country continues to reel under a steep financial crisis.
Mikati also said "we can no longer spend money to help cancer patients and those requiring dialysis," adding that he refuses to allow the constitution to be used as a pretext to postpone a meeting to address challenges facing cancer patients.
Source: Xinhua