BEIRUT - As Lebanon's new Premier Fouad Siniora unveiled his Cabinet Tuesday, which included for the first time a representative of Hizbullah, unrepresented political forces insisted the Cabinet is not "a national unity Cabinet." Elias Zoghby of the Free Patriotic Movement said the movement which was not represented in the new Cabinet will play the role of "a special opposition."

Speaking with The Daily Star, Zoghby said: "We will present a new modern and democratic model of the opposition, with the hope the new Cabinet will in return present a new model of a democratic authority."

Zoghby also insisted the Cabinet is not "a national unity Cabinet as Siniora calls it because it does not represent all the Lebanese political movements."

He, however, refrained from commenting on the abilities of the new Cabinet to reform the country's political, economic and social institutions, adding that "we wish the Cabinet success in its new mission."

He said: "We don't have a pre-negative stance toward the new Cabinet, but will watch it closely and carefully through Parliament and the public opinion."

But Zoghby added that handing the Justice Ministry to Charles Rizk, a close ally of President Emile Lahoud and the former Information Minister in caretaker Najib Mikati's Cabinet, was a good choice.

He said: "Handing the ministry to Charles Rizk, whom we deeply respect, is better than handing it to someone not known for his commitment to reform. We will support the minister in his reform mission."

Kesrouan MP Neamatallah Abi Nasr expressed his satisfaction at the formation of the new Cabinet "as this will prevent the country from falling into a national crisis."

However, Abi Nasr said: "The new Cabinet is not that of national unity and reconciliation as many political movements remained unrepresented."

As to whether the new Cabinet will meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people in implementing reforms, Abi Nasr said "the ministerial statement will clarify the situation."

Lebanese Forces MP Edmond Naim said the new Cabinet's ministerial statement will determine how successful it will be in its mission.

But Naim pointed to the Cabinet's failure in representing all the parliamentarian blocs. He said: "National unity cannot be achieved as long as there are popular parties like the Free Patriotic Movement unrepresented."

Commenting on Hizbullah's participation in the Cabinet, Naim said: "Hizbullah is a powerful party and generates popular support and has to prove itself now it is in power." - Daily Star