The United States supports the formation of a new government in Lebanon, but it also sets as a priority the preservation of stability in Lebanon, As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

It also opposes any measure that may jeopardize Lebanon's stability, U.S. Ambassador David Hale told President Michel Suleiman during a meeting they held away from the media spotlight between Christmas and New Year's eve.

The March 14 forces are preparing for a political and diplomatic campaign to confront the current situation in Lebanon, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

It said that this campaign will pave the way for their announcement of “constitutional disobedience.”

Lebanon is set to receive a new grant to aid the Lebanese army from the United Arab of Emirates, media reports said on Monday.

The grants aim at bolstering the Lebanese army’s capabilities amid the rising security threats as the turmoil in war-torn neighboring Syria is spilling over into the country.

Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora declared that the March 14 camp will not back down from its principles and its struggle to achieve a free, democratic, and independent Lebanon.

He said: “We will liberate Lebanon from the occupation of the illegitimate arms.”

Politicians, clergymen, diplomats, civil society activists and grieving relatives converged on Mohammed al-Amin mosque in downtown Beirut on Saturday to extend their condolences to the family of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah.

President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Premier Najib Miqati were at the helm of top officials who condoled the family and the leader of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc former PM Fouad Saniora.

The March 14 forces condemned on Friday the assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, saying that his murderer is “known to all Lebanese.”

Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora said: “We demand that his assassination be referred to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”

Head of al-Mustaqbal Parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora revealed that prominent Tripoli lawmakers and the March 14 alliance will hold another meeting next week to follow talks held on Monday at the Center House.

“Monday's meeting was set to follow up the development projects in Tripoli Declaration,” Saniora said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper on Tuesday.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji said on Monday that he ordered military units to deal firmly with gunmen in the West Bekaa town of Souairi.

Qahwaji stressed in comments published in As Safir newspaper that the army will not hesitate in maintaining security in the country and striking it with an iron fist.

The ongoing political deadlock destabilized the ties between President Michel Suleiman and al-Mustaqbal movement, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the daily, tension escalated between Suleiman and head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora after the President voiced consensus over the formation of a cabinet based on 6-9-9 formula, which enraged al-Mustaqbal movement.

Several March 14 alliance officials held talks at the Center House on Tuesday night after the latest security incidents that shook the country and amid the continued deadlock ahead of the presidential elections, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported.

The daily quoted informed sources as saying that the meeting was attended by Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel, al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc chief MP Fouad Saniora and former Minister Mohammed Shatah, who is al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri's advisor.