U.S. Ambassador David Hale said Monday that Washington stood ready to work with Prime Minister Tammam Salam to help his government overcome many challenges, including the threat of terrorism.

“We stand ready to work with him (Salam) and his team to advance our bilateral relations and to help with the many challenges facing Lebanon,” Hale said following talks with the prime minister.

Military Examining Magistrate Fadi Sawan interrogated on Monday three suspects on charges of belonging to a terrorist Qaida-Linked organization and of planning to carry out terrorist attacks in Lebanon.

Sawan also issued an arrest warrant against the three suspects and one in absentia against Omar al-Satem, who is still in Syria.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hailed on Monday the formation of a new government, noting that the arduous negotiations resulted in the formation of an all-embracing cabinet that he had called for since the beginning of Tammam Salam's appointment as premier-designate.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “We hope the government will help organize political disputes by taking them off the streets and to the cabinet table.”

Head of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammed Raad hailed on Monday the formation of a new government, while warning against attempts to exploit political rivalries in Lebanon to create Sunni-Shiite strife.

He said: “Lebanon can only be governed by all of its factions.”

Speaker Nabih Berri hoped that the new cabinet would receive parliament's vote of confidence to face many challenges, including terrorism, and would pave way for the resumption of the national dialogue.

“Lebanon now has a government which we hope it would complete its policy statement and receive parliament's vote of confidence to confront many challenges,” Berri said during a dinner banquet thrown in his honor by Lebanon's Ambassador to Kuwait.

Tammam Salam was welcomed on Monday by staff members after he arrived at the Grand Serail to begin his work as Lebanon's new prime minister.

Salam, who formed his 24-member all-embracing government after a ten month deadlock, was accompanied by Environment Minister Mohammed Mashnouq.

The Associated Press removed a government-produced picture of Lebanese officials posing with members of the new cabinet after learning of the photograph's manipulation.

After learning of the photograph's manipulation on Sunday, the AP removed the image from its archives and issued an advisory to customers not to use it.

Speaker Nabih Berri lauded on Monday Prime Minister Tammam Salam's cabinet, describing it as “the best we can achieve amid the critical situation the country is passing through."

“The cabinet isn't technical nor neutral... It is a political government based on delicate balances,” Barri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

The newly-formed government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam faces this week the first test to form a committee tasked with drafting the policy statement, which could be a source of contention between the rival parties.

The first cabinet session will be held under President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace on Tuesday to form the committee, whose mission is to draft the policy statement in less than a month.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam stressed on Monday that he is seeking to ease the troubles of the Lebanese people, voicing hope that the March 8 and 14 alliance would bridge the gap and amend ties.

“We are seeking to ease tension in the country and relief people,” Salam said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.