The "united" ministers were meeting for the fifth consecutive day seeking to "resolve" their conflicts over the ministerial statement when the "crisis" came from another place, from the Internal Security Forces (ISF) institution...

The "crisis" started with the decision of the ISF Director General Ashraf Rifi to suspend Police Chief Brigadier General Antoine Shakkour for "failing to obey orders" despite a previous "agreement" with Interior Minister Ziad Baroud.

The squabble subsided after midnight when a "compromise" was concluded between Rifi and Shakkour after several hours of efforts by President Michel Sleiman, Interior Minister Ziad Baroud as well as political leaders from the March 14 coalition and the Opposition.

It stipulated that Shakkour would approve a memorandum from Rifi authorizing the reassignment of two senior officers - one from Beirut and another from south Lebanon - to the Presidential Palace. Rifi, in turn, would take back his decision to suspend Shakkour from his duties for 15 days.

Yet, Baroud was said to have expressed frustration over what happened and decided not to show up at his office today, especially after Rifi "passed over" the minister's authorities. While some press reports said that he might resign from the government, Baroud was quoted as saying that he strongly disapproves of "partial solutions" to the problems facing the ISF Command, adding that "he will not accept any punitive measures against any officer, including Shakkour."

Meanwhile, Lebanese daily As-Safir said senior Opposition leaders were summoned for a meeting Thursday evening during which they considered Rifi's decision against Shakkour "a dangerous precedent that we cannot stay quiet about." They also believed that Rifi's measure was against the entire Lebanese Opposition," As-Safir said.

The daily quoted an Opposition official as saying that contacts between the Free Patriotic Movement, Hezbollah, AMAL and Marada Movement resulted in a common stance that the Opposition will inform all concerned of its decision to stand by Shakkour.

In addition, Minister Ziad Baroud, frustrated by the developments within the Internal Security Forces (ISF) institution, didn't attend the meeting of the Ministerial Statement committee. For the sixth consecutive day, the committee held a meeting at the Grand Serail under Prime Minister Saad Hariri in an attempt to conclude discussions and finalize drafting the statement...