Hezbollah arms mentioned in Cabinet talks

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Nov. 16 (UPI) -- Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri met with his ministers Monday to begin work on a draft policy statement for his newly appointed government.

Hariri told reporters that efforts to reach a joint policy statement were continuing in a positive development. Further negotiations on a formal draft policy document were scheduled for Tuesday.

"There will be a new approach regarding all of the topics" before the new government, Hariri said.

Hezbollah's al-Manar news station said talks on weapons for the Shiite resistance movement were included in general deliberations.

Hezbollah is obligated under the terms of a 2006 cease-fire with Israel to abandon its weapons. Recently, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called on the resistance movement to lay down their arms in favor of integrating into the political process.

"The threats posed by the existence of militias outside the control of the state, especially Hezbollah's vast paramilitary infrastructure, cannot be overstated," he said in October.

Hariri led his March 14 alliance to power in June parliamentary elections. After months of political wrangling, Hariri handed his list of Cabinet ministers into Lebanese President Michel Suleiman, forming a new government.

Through a power-sharing arrangement with the opposition March 8 coalition, Hezbollah was awarded two posts in the new Lebanese government.