Speaker Nabih Berri slammed on Thursday claims that the March 14 alliance was being charitable to Hizbullah by approving to remove its veto on the party's participation in the new cabinet.

In remarks to several local newspapers, Berri said: “No one gives charity to Hizbullah. On the contrary Hizbullah is being charitable to others.”

President Michel Suleiman voiced on Tuesday his confidence that a new government that includes all powers will be formed in Lebanon.

He expressed before his visitors his confidence that a government “capable of withstanding local and international developments would be formed.”

President Michel Suleiman denounced on Monday any violation of holy places and sites for the “symbols of civilization they hold and spirit of peace and tolerance they have.”

The president expressed deep dismay after reports that Syrian rebels, including jihadists linked to al-Qaida, have taken control on Sunday of the historic Christian town of Maalula north of Damascus.

French President Francois Hollande stressed his country's keenness on Lebanon's stability and the importance of adhering to the Baabda Declaration, reported the daily An Nahar on Monday.

He added that the Lebanese people should avoid “reactions that may lead their country towards situations that do not benefit Lebanon.”

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday on the necessity to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis.

Suleiman's statement came during a meeting with his French counterpart Francois Hollande in France's southern city of Nice.

President Michel Suleiman met on Saturday with Lebanon's delegation to the Francophone Games in southern France, saying Lebanese youth resisted Israel and defeated terrorism through the army.

“Lebanese youth have the will and have been capable of making wider achievements than any other country,” Suleiman told the delegation that is participating in the games in the coastal city of Nice.

President Michel Suleiman on Friday arrived in the southern French city of Nice, where he will take part in the opening of the 2013 Francophone Games and hold talks with French President Francois Hollande.

Suleiman was accompanied by First Lady Wafaa Suleiman, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Samir Moqbel and a Lebanese delegation, according to state-run National News Agency.

The Higher Defense Council lauded on Friday the role of security forces and the army in arresting criminals as it was briefed on measures put in place to defend diplomatic missions and confront a bigger refugee influx from Syria.

Top officials were “briefed by security and military officials on the arrest of criminals and called for doubling their efforts to do so,” Higher Defense Council Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed Kheir said following a meeting led by President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace.

President Michel Suleiman praised on Thursday the General Security members for their role in uncovering spy networks and terrorist cells.

He said: “The discovery of these cells and the firing of rockets in Lebanon are a glimpse of what global terror has in store for the country.”

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam slammed on Thursday political parties involved in the cabinet formation process for having a “political appetite” that has stopped him from coming up with a line-up since his appointment in April.

Efforts to form the government are ongoing amid a “series of conditions and counterconditions that haven't stopped and haven't taken a respite for five months,” said Salam at Baabda Palace following talks with President Michel Suleiman.