Naharnet feature

President Michel Suleiman's recent positions and political choices have sparked debates between the various Lebanese political factions. The president, who may have been “consensually” elected in 2008 through the Doha Accord that was brought about by Hizbullah's actions on May 7, 2008, is now in a semi-overt confrontation with the party over its internal and strategic choices.

President Michel Suleiman called on Monday on the political foes to bridge the gap and seek the formation of an all-embracing cabinet by passing over the details.

“We must not let the social situation in the country deteriorate further or allow the diminution of the role of the state institutions,” Suleiman stressed.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday voiced his country's support for forming an all-embracing cabinet in Lebanon, hoping for the activation of the economic agreements between the two countries, “especially after the lifting of the international sanctions” that were imposed on Tehran.

Zarif's remarks were voiced at the end of an official visit to Lebanon during which he met with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam, caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed optimism on Monday over the ongoing contacts to form a new cabinet between the political foes, hailing the efforts exerted by head of al-Mustaqbal movement former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

“Ex-PM Saad Hariri isn't only cooperating with endeavors to form an all-embracing cabinet but also cooperating to remove all obstacles confronting it,” Berri said in comments published in local newspapers.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has said it was up to the rival political parties to agree on the details of the new government over their decision to negotiate on a 24-member all-embracing cabinet.

The details of the cabinet formation “were with me when I was planning to form a non partisan government,” Salam said.

Bishop Samir Mazloum denied claims of tensions between the Maronite patriarchate and President Michel Suleiman, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah on Sunday.

He reiterated to the daily Bkirki's support for the formation of an “all-embracing” government.

The high demand on some of the military equipment pledged by Saudi Arabia to the Lebanese army will result in a short delay in delivering them to the military institution, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

A French source told the daily however that the Saudi grant will take effect “within a month.”

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said Saturday that the March 14 alliance hasn't yet decided whether it would participate in a 24-member national unity government.

In remarks to al-Jadeed TV, Geagea said: “We haven't yet decided on our participation in an 8-8-8 cabinet.”

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora visited on Saturday President Michel Suleiman, who urged all parties to make concessions to form a government that wins parliament's vote of confidence.

Saniora's press office said after his talks with Suleiman at Baabda Palace that the meeting was “serious” and “honest.”

A U.S. official has said that Washington did not reject Hizbullah's participation in the new government if the approval of the cabinet line-up lied on the presence of its members in it.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Saturday, the official, who was not identified, said: “If the safe passage of the new cabinet in Lebanon and the closure of the caretaking era lied in Hizbullah's participation, then the U.S. does not mind to that.”