The Lebanese cabinet remains in limbo and its sessions may be halted during the holy month of Ramadan on hopes that they would resume after Eid al-Fitr, unnamed ministerial sources told al-Joumhouria daily on Saturday.

The sources told the paper on condition of anonymity that Prime Minister Tammam Salam is unlikely to call for a cabinet session during Ramadan, pointing out that he traveled on Friday afternoon on a private visit.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awad Asiri stressed on Friday that his country is counting on the wisdom of Lebanese officials to reach solutions that will ease tensions in Lebanon, the state-run National News Agency said.

“The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen to preserve Lebanon and its people, and it is counting on the wisdom of its officials to reach solutions that would ease the tension and fortify the internal arena,” said Asiri.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov has repeatedly said that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun should give up his candidacy for the presidency to resolve Lebanon's political crisis.

Lebanon's Ambassador to Moscow, Shawqi Bou Nassar, has said in a report that Bogdanov was in favor for Aoun to “pave way for other candidates and allow other Christian personalities to announce their candidacies.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly urged the rival political parties “to come to their senses” and to work on the activation of the parliament and the government.

Berri's visitors quoted him as saying that he “hoped everyone would come to their senses and feel the dangers of the current situation.”

Political and religious parties are competing on the name of the brigadier-general who will lead the army intelligence when the incumbent, Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel, retires next September, local dailies reported on Thursday.

The newspapers quoted military sources as saying that the names of Brig. Gen. Wadih al-Ghafari and Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud have been proposed by a political party.

Lebanon has likely plunged in an open-ended cabinet crisis after consultations on the controversial issue of the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials failed to produce results.

Speaker Nabih Berri did not confirm to his visitors whether Prime Minister Tammam Salam would be able to call for a cabinet session this month or if the paralysis would last longer than the holy month of Ramadan which starts on Thursday.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam is not likely to call for a cabinet session this week to allow the rival parties to agree on ways to manage the state's affairs without clashing on the controversial issue of high-ranking officials.

An official close to Salam told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat published on Monday that Salam gave the parties two weeks to continue to hold contacts and avoid a cabinet paralysis.

The government crisis is expected to have a heavy toll on the ongoing dialogue between the Mustaqbal Movement and Hizbullah.

According to An Nahar newspaper published Sunday, the upcoming round of talks between the political arch-foes will be affected by the cabinet crisis.

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed grave dissatisfaction over the ongoing cabinet crisis, expressing fear over the fate of Syria after the attack against Druze in Syria's Qalb Lawzah

“Prime Minister Tammam Salam and I are on the same page,” Berri said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper Sunday, considering that they are tackling the matter "patiently."

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji expressed distress Friday over political tension in the country, saying it harms the institution, in particular the dispute over the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.

Sources close to the army chief said in comments published in As Safir newspaper that Qahwaji warned that the political rift could distract the military, which is engaged in a combat against terrorism.