The second day of the binding parliamentary consultation kicked off on Saturday morning with the blocs continuing their support for MP Tammam Salam to head a new government.

LBCI television reported that the MP garnered a total of 124 votes by lawmakers to assume the position of prime minister.

Binding consultations for naming a prime minister-designate are likely to result in nearly 60 MPs in favor of the March 14 alliance's candidate, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday as MP Tammam Salam held talks with al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri, a sign that he is the coalition's candidate.

The newspaper said that another 58 MPs would come in support of the March 8 camp's nominee while the rest of the lawmakers would not name any PM-designate who will be tasked with forming the new cabinet less than a month after the resignation of Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati.

President Michel Suleiman underwent on Wednesday a scheduled medical check-up at the Clinique du Levant in Mkalles, the presidency said in a statement.

According to the presidential palace, Suleiman, 65, is well and resumed his activity shortly at the Baabda Palace.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora on Saturday met with President Michel Suleiman before traveling to Saudi Arabia for a meeting with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

Saniora held talks with Suleiman at Baabda palace on Saturday morning. He then traveled to Riyadh at the head of a delegation from al-Mustaqbal movement.

President Michel Suleiman set April 5 and 6 as the dates of the consultations to name a new prime minister in Lebanon.

The presidency said in a statement that the binding parliamentary consultations to name a new premier will kick off at the Baabda Palace on Friday, April 5 and end on the next day.

Speaker Nabih Berri said Monday that the national dialogue at Baabda palace has become a necessity after the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's government.

The resumption of the dialogue has become “urgent and necessary” to study how the parliamentary elections could be held and the new government formed, Berri told As Safir daily.

The Syndicate Coordination Committee slammed officials on Wednesday, accusing them of trying to divide the union amid media reports that five people were injured in a dispute between protesters and security forces near the vehicle registration authority.

“March 21 will be a spring for the union movement in Lebanon,” head of Public Secondary School Education Teachers Association Hanna Gharib told protesters rallying near the Serail of Baabda.

Students and their parents joined on Tuesday the Syndicate Coordination Committee in its endeavors by participating in its sit-in near the Ministry of Education in Beirut's UNESCO area.

The angry protesters held banners calling on the cabinet to refer the new wage scale for public employees to the parliament, accusing it of negligence and the Economic Committees of corruption.

President Michel Suleiman urged on Monday all parties to embrace the Lebanese Armed Forces after he praised them in preserving security and preventing strife, and warned against chaos.

In a statement issued by Baabda palace, Suleiman “lauded the role of the military and security forces, mainly the army, in preserving security and civil peace, and preventing strife at these difficult circumstances in the region.”

President Michel Suleiman called on Wednesday for the commitment to the Baabda Declaration, saying statements made by Lebanese politicians against Bahrain don't reflect the government's policy.

Addressing cabinet ministers during a session held at Baabda palace, Suleiman said: “We hold onto the best of ties with Bahrain and its government.”