Beirut (AsiaNews) – The task facing Fouad Siniora is no easy one. Reliable sources say the Lebanese prime minister must decide about the makeup of the government within the next 24 hours.

The situation is tense: a shootout among Christians last night in the north of the country left one dead and two injured. The follower of former pro-Syrian minister for internal affairs, Suleiman Frangie, defeated in the 29 May – 19 June elections, opened fire on a group of militants of the Lebanese Forces, the disbanded Christian militia which forms part of the anti-Syrian front which triumphed in the election. The bloody shootout took place last night in the village of Dah al-Ain, where Yussef Wajih Frangie opened fire on three rivals from the Lebanese Forces. One of the three, Aziz Saleh, was killed while the other two, brothers Tony and Clovis Issa, were wounded. The assassin has so far managed to evade capture. In a statement, former minister Frangie condemned the shooting and urged families of the victims not to seek revenge but to "turn to the state to adopt the necessary measure so justice may be done and security preserved."

The episode aggravates the tension amid which Fouad Siniora must form a new government: a heavy undertaking. But the man, famous above all for having been the deputy of Rafic Hariri, is simple and discreet, diffident when talking to crowds. The one-time minister for finance last night seemed aware of the problems lying ahead as he undertook courtesy visits to his predecessors. He mentioned the range of reforms to be implemented, already setting his priorities straight. The first government to be free from Syrian stewardship is faced with the task of reestablishing the state and the democratic system.

Within the next 24 hours, Fouad Siniora – one of the few figures of the Hariri group who still has reasonable ties with President Emile Lahoud – will have intense meetings to define the composition of the new government. Sources close to him speculate that the cabinet may be composed of between 24 and 30 ministers. Aoun's group and his allies will contribute four or five ministers – they should get the justice portfolio and perhaps environment too – and the Lebanese Forces will have one or two ministers: MP Georges Adwan told AsiaNews the name will depend on the portfolio the LF will be given.

The majority group of Saad Hariri should get eight ministers, Christian and Muslim. The group Kornet Chechwan, backed by the Maronite Church, will have one minister. There should be ministers Boutros Harb and Pierre El Gemayel. Amal and Hezbollah will have their share.