Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri reportedly held a “secret” meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh on Saturday, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

The daily said that discussions tackled several “suggestions,” on the formation of the government, that Berri believes must be addressed "quickly," said the daily.

Caretaker Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan on Sunday blamed “infiltrators” for Sunday’s clashes in central Beirut, urging “peaceful protesters” to leave the area.

In remarks to MTV, al-Hassan also expressed concern that the violence could be part of a “plot” to obstruct parliamentary consultations to a pick a new premier scheduled for Monday.

Security forces fired tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons Sunday evening in a bid to disperse protesters outside Beirut’s Nejmeh Square, after firecrackers and bottles were hurled at them.

Several protesters disavowed the individuals who hurled the dozens of firecrackers, describing them as “infiltrators.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri held a “secret” meeting with President Michel Aoun in Baabda on Saturday evening, TV networks reported on Sunday.

The reports said the talks tackled “the governmental developments on the eve of the binding parliamentary consultations” to pick a new premier.

Hizbullah Central Council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Sunday said that hisQaouq: We Want Govt. that Wins Confidence of People on Streets, in Homes

Hizbullah Central Council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Sunday said that his party wants a government that would “win the confidence of people present on the streets and in their homes.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s will not change his stance on the need to form a government of experts that would be able to confront the economic and social challenges, sources close to him said.

“Should he be designated to form the new government, PM Hariri will seek to form an integrated team comprising figures who have expertise,” LBCI TV quoted the Center House sources as saying.

Senior al-Mustaqbal Movement official ex-MP Mustafa Alloush has hinted that caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri will not reject his re-nomination for the PM post in Monday’s binding parliamentary consultations.

“Hariri does not want to dodge his responsibilities in these critical moments,” Alloush said in a TV interview.

Unknown individuals overnight vandalized two offices belonging to the Free Patriotic Movement and al-Mustaqbal Movement in the northern district of Akkar, the National News Agency said.

NNA said the FPM’s office in the Akkar town of al-Joumeh was attacked around 3:00 am.

Caretaker Interior Minister Raya al-Hassan on Sunday said she has ordered a probe into the fierce overnight clashes between protesters and riot police in central Beirut.

“I was concerned, saddened and astounded as I followed up throughout the night yesterday on the confrontations in the vicinity of parliament and on Beirut’s streets, which led to clashes between security forces and citizens and injuries on both sides,” al-Hassan said in a statement.

Riot police clashed with anti-government protesters in Beirut late Saturday, firing tear gas heavily to prevent them from breaching barricades near parliament, ahead of talks next week to appoint a new premier. 

Lebanon has been swept by unprecedented nationwide protests since October 17, demanding the complete overhaul of a political class deemed inept and corrupt.