A political standoff is expected to arise in the cabinet between newly appointed ministers Jebran Bassil and Butros Harb, who both hail from the northern city of Batroun.

The dispute is likely to tackle Bassil's activities in the Ministry of Telecommunications since he took office in 2011, and the services he might have offered to the people of his hometown.

Baabda Palace assured on Saturday that newly appointed Minister of Social Affairs Rashid Derbas is considered a member of the centrist camp, along with Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Motleb al-Hennawi, deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Samir Moqbel and Displaced Minister Alice Chabtini.

The presidency's confirmation to Naharnet comes after reports said al-Mustaqbal Party had nominated Derbas as a Minister of Interior at one stage during the cabinet's formation process, hence, questioning his links with the March 14 camp.

With the formation of the new cabinet on Saturday, al-Mustaqbal movement has secured ministries that are concerned with the works of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is trying in absentia the five suspects accused of killing former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

MP Butros Harb, a member of the March 14 camp, has been appointed as the Telecommunications Minister, while former Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi was named the new Justice Minister, weeks after his nomination constituted a challenge that delayed the cabinet's formation.

Members of the International Support Group for Lebanon, which was launched in September last year by U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon with President Michel Suleiman to mobilize support for Lebanon’s stability, sovereignty and state institutions, congratulated on Saturday Prime Minister Tammam Salam on the formation of the new government in Lebanon.

The International Support Group for Lebanon warmly welcome the announcement of the formation of a new government in Lebanon.

Former PM Saad Hariri congratulated on Saturday the new PM Tammam Salam on the formation of a cabinet, praising his patience and wisdom after a 10-month political vacuum in the country.

“I hope that the new government heralds well-beginning for Lebanon and the Lebanese, and that it is able to face the constitutional and national entitlements at this critical stage the nation is witnessing,” said Hariri.

The new government was announced on Saturday nearly 11 months after Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's appointment, but it emerged that it is not a cabinet that distributes power equally between the rival March 8 and 14 camps and centrists as had previously been reported.

The March 14 camp obtained nine ministers in the new government, three of which went to the Phalange Party.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam expressed on Saturday his confidence that the newly-formed cabinet will be able to meet constitutional deadlines and its national duties.

He said shortly after the formation of the new government: “The new cabinet should be able to stage the presidential elections on time and approve a new parliamentary electoral law.”

Prime Minister Tammam Salam was not aware when he was appointed as premier-designate in April 2013 that his task will last nearly 11 months.

The process of forming a new government was met with local and regional obstacles, most notably the conflict in Syria and various conditions set by the rival March 8 and 14 camps.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam announced on Saturday the formation of a 24-minister cabinet, ten months and a week after his appointment.

The ministers have been distributed equally between the rival March 8 and 14 camps and centrists of President Michel Suleiman, Salam, and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.

Former Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi accused on Saturday Hizbullah of obstructing efforts to form a cabinet and of obstructing the functioning of the state.

He said in a statement: “Hizbullah has become addicted to obstructing the functioning of the state and it sought to turn the Interior Ministry portfolio into an obstacle in forming a government.”