United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Lebanese leaders to fortify the “national institutions” and safeguard Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian turmoil, expressing concern over Hizbullah's involvement in battles in the neighboring country.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Friday, the U.N. chief praised the endeavors carried out by President Michel Suleiman to maintain the dissociation policy, calling on all parties to abide by the Baabda declaration.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has said that Lebanon has been suffering from a crisis in its political system over the rejection of a certain party of the Taef Accord.

In an interview with al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Friday, Geagea said: “We are suffering from a system crisis and all other issues are aimed at covering it up.”

George Kassab, the brother of a Lebanese cameraman who disappeared in Syria, said on Thursday that the Lebanese authorities isn't seeking to reveal the fate of Samir.

“Should we start burning tires?” George wondered in comments to Free Lebanon radio.

President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday announced that Lebanon will annually commemorate singing legend Wadih al-Safi, who passed away on Friday evening.

"No one can do justice to the late artist. Lebanon has its national anthem but the country of cedars also has several anthems performed by the late legend," Suleiman said, as he offered condolences at the St. George Church on Tuesday afternoon.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea slammed on Saturday the political powers' failure to form a new government, saying that the delay is “killing Lebanon's democratic and constitutional system.”

He said during the LF Europe Annual Convention: “President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam should form a new cabinet in a manner that meets their aspirations and relieves their consciences.”

Efforts to form a new government will not halt during the Eid al-Adha holiday, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

It said that the formation of a new cabinet can no longer be delayed, adding that an Independence Day on November 22 has been set as a deadline or “red line” for political powers to overcome all obstacles hindering their efforts to form a government.

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour denied that Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat had become closer to the March 8 alliance after dropping his support for giving eight ministers to each of Lebanon's three political camps in the new cabinet.

In an interview with An Nahar newspaper published on Saturday, Abou Faour said: “There isn't any change in any regard except for the protection of stability.”

Senior officials of the Free Patriotic Movement and key members of the Change and Reform bloc demanded on Friday that an end be put to the extension of the term of state agencies and figures.

“We demand the election of a strong Christian president," they said in a statement read by MP Ibrahim Kanaan.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam blamed on Friday politicians for his failure to form the new government although he said that he was still "devoted" to come up with a line-up.

In remarks to reporters at Baabda palace after talks with President Michel Suleiman, Salam said he “felt that politicians are not willing to remove the obstacles” facing the formation of the cabinet.

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said on Friday that the extension of President Michel Suleiman's mandate “is inevitable, whether he will agree on it or not.”

“The extension of Suleiman's term is inevitable if the political foes failed to form a new cabinet before his mandate ends,” Charbel said in an interview published in al-Akhbar newspaper.