BEIRUT: The Cabinet acted Wednesday on the long-standing issue of administrative appointments after more than a year of political bickering between its parties, making several judicial appointments.

Convening under President Michel Sleiman, the Cabinet appointed Judge Jean Fahd as the head of the Higher Judicial Council, a post that has been vacant for nearly two years.

Judge Hatem Madi became the general prosecutor, replacing Judge Saeed Mirza, who retired on July 30. Madi is to retire after eight months.

Fawzi Khamis was appointed a public prosecutor at the Court of Accounts and Marwan Abboud as the head of the Higher Disciplinary Committee. Ghassan Sarhal became a member of the committee. Ali Ahmar was appointed a general inspector at the Department of Central Inspection.

Some ministers, including Energy Minister Gebran Bassil, Youth and Sports Minister Faisal Karami and Minister of State Marwan Khaireddine, objected that they had not been informed of the appointments ahead of time, complaining that they heard the names from media outlets. However, the three ministers did not oppose the appointees. Mikati will chair a Cabinet session Tuesday at the Grand Serail.