Christian Party Split Widens in Lebanon

A schism inside Lebanon’s largest Christian political party widened Friday over whether it should join a national unity Cabinet which Prime Minister Salim Hoss is still striving to form.

Falange Party President George Saadeh said he had not yet decided whether to take part in a government headed by Hoss, a Sunni Muslim supported by Syria.

He said a decision would be taken unanimously by the party, whose support is vital if Hoss is to have significant Christian representation in his Cabinet.

But Fouad Abu Nader, a member of Falange’s decision-making political bureau, said he believes in greater unity with Christian army commander Maj. Gen. Michel Aoun and echoed Aoun’s call for a full withdrawal of Syria’s 40,000 troops.

Aoun has rejected an Arab-sponsored peace pact ratified by Parliament Nov. 5 and does not recognize Rene Mouawad, the president elected under the plan, or Hoss, his prime minister.

Saadeh, who voted for the pact and for Mouawad, said he will meet with the president in Syrian-controlled northern Lebanon this weekend.

Nader agreed that the Falange’s political bureau will make the final decision. He declined to say if he opposes Saadeh’s joining the Cabinet, but he accused Hoss of trying to put pressure on the Christian enclave.