Nafez Kawas
Daily Star correspondent

The government endorsed its handling of a controversial weekend parliamentary by-election Thursday, apparently won by the opposition, but Interior Minister Elias Murr failed to appear at the session.
Information Minister Ghazi Aridi, briefing reporters afterward, said ministers were free to stay away from Cabinet meetings whether for “political or personal” reasons, but declined to explain Murr’s absence. Seven ministers were absent in total. Government sources affirmed Murr had not resigned but was upset at the aftermath of the poll and would only resume attending when the issue “is treated,” as one source put it.
Murr’s performance in supervising Sunday’s elections ­ which have yet to see an official result announced ­ has been criticized by opposition politicians.
Aridi said President Emile Lahoud led ministers in a discussion of the vote, which was apparently won by Gabriel Murr, stressing that “all issues” were dealt with according to law. Aridi said the Higher Vote Tabulation Committee would soon announce the results, though the Election Law stipulates that the Interior Ministry do this.
On his way out of the session, Premier Rafik Hariri said that “the (election) results will not be changed,” referring to Gabriel Murr’s expected victory. For his part, Aridi declined to answer reporters’ questions about the implications of Elias Murr’s absence, affirming that ministers had the right not to attend meetings. He also urged the public to put the by-election behind it and warned that only “Israel and its agents” could benefit from domestic strife over such issues.
Ironically, the government endorsed Murr’s decision to enforce a law banning the use of diesel by taxis and mini-vans, which have deadlines of June 15 and July 15 respectively to stop operating and switch to gasoline.
Aridi said media outlets had engaged in “innumerable” violations of the audiovisual media law. He said ministers discussed the issue, which has seen stations engage in lack of objectivity, sectarianism, technical violations, and political grandstanding, but no time-table was set for cracking down on violations.

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