The Lebanese army on Monday said a soldier was shot when gunmen in a vehicle refused to stop at a military checkpoint in Baalbek.

Prime Minister designate Mustafa Adib is reportedly optimistic that there would be a breakthrough in forming the government “Monday”, the Saudi Asharq el-Awsat reported.

Serbia’s announcement that it will designate Hizbullah as “a terrorist organization in its entirety” is another significant step limiting “this Iranian backed terrorist group’s ability to operate in Europe,” the U.S. said on Sunday.

“This important action was announced as part of the historic commitments President (Donald) Trump secured on a wide range of economic normalization issues between Serbia and Kosovo, coupled with the steps both nations are taking to help achieve peace in the Middle East,” U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Sunday decried that “a single camp” is seeking to form the new government “without consultations” with the other political parties, in an apparent reference to Prime Minister-designate Mustafa Adib and his backers.

“Why is there insistence on the formation of a government by a single camp, without consultations with anyone, under the slogan of expert, nonpartisan (ministers)?” Bassil said at a press conference.

Lebanon recorded 686 new cases of coronavirus on Saturday and ten fatalities, the Health Ministry said.

The new cases raised the total number of COVID-19 cases in Lebanon to 23,669 since the first virus case was detected on February 21.

Lebanese soldiers on Saturday fired rubber bullets and live rounds in the air to disperse hundreds of protesters trying to march to the presidential palace during an anti-government demonstration.

Tension is high in Lebanon following last month's devastating explosion at Beirut's port that killed nearly 200 people, and after another mysterious and huge blaze at the same site Thursday.

Press office of the Presidency issued a statement on Saturday stating that President Michel Aoun did not reject signing a decree exempting customs chief Badri Daher of his duties.

Prime Minister designate Mustafa Adib is keen on forming a government capable of carrying out the numerous tasks ahead away from conflicts between political parties, media reports said on Saturday.

Sources following up on the government formation process said “the initial formation draft will be on the table of Baabda Palace within hours amid constitutional consultation between the presidency and speakership,” Nidaa al-Watan newspaper reported.

United Nations Special Coordinator for Lebanon marked 40 days Saturday since the colossal Beirut port explosion urging “credible” investigation and accountability.

Smoke billowed from the port in Lebanon's capital Friday hours after firefighters said they were able to bring under control a huge fire that terrified the city's residents five weeks after a massive blast killed and wounded thousands of people.

The fire led authorities to order the removal of all dangerous materials from the country's ports and airport to avoid more such incidents that have traumatized the nation of 5 million. Military police have already opened an investigation into the fire.