The Higher Defense Council convened at the Baabda Palace on Friday in order to discuss the blast that took place in Beirut's southern suburbs on Thursday.

It said after the meeting, chaired by President Michel Suleiman: “We requested that the security agencies exert all efforts in order to apprehend those behind terrorist attacks in Lebanon.”

President Michel Suleiman stated on Thursday that the explosion in the southern suburb of Beirut “bears the hallmark of terrorism and Israel.”

"I condemn the terrorist Dahieh explosion that aims at shaking stability in the country and the Lebanese people's resistance,” Suleiman said in a released statement.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam expressed surprise on Thursday over reports saying that a neutral de facto cabinet will be formed during the upcoming days.

Salam in comments published in As Safir newspaper stressed that he is following up with President Michel Suleiman and the concerned officials the process of government formation.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam denied on Wednesday that he will be forming a de facto cabinet, stressing that he supports “a council of ministers that serves the national interest.”

"A cabinet will be formed and everything that has been said in the past few days on the government's formation is not correct,” Salam said after holding talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters, hand over its weapons to the state, become part of the Lebanese fold, and limit its losses, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday.

He told the daily: “I hope President Michel Suleiman and Primer Minister-designate Tammam Salam will assume their responsibilities until the very end because the fate of the state depends on what they do.”

President Michel Suleiman might head to a short visit to Saudi Arabia ahead of a private vacation that he will spend in Europe, al-Joumhouria reported on Wednesday.

According to the report, the president will kick start his vacation on August 18 which will last until the 28th.

The March 8 alliance urged President Michel Suleiman not to end his era with the formation of a government that would create a rift among the Lebanese, As-Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to a prominent source close to the March 8 coalition, “Suleiman shouldn't end his presidency era with a cabinet that would lead to confrontation and create further chaos in the country.”

President Michel Suleiman on Monday called for supporting the army so that it can become the only force that possesses arms in Lebanon, stressing that the state must oversee the so-called army-people-resistance equation.

“Commitment to the Baabda Declaration is what can protect Lebanon's unity and stability, as well as to the defense strategy that we proposed in the wake of the Baabda Decalaration,” Suleiman said in a speech on the occasion of moving to the summer presidential headquarters in Beiteddine.

President Michel Suleiman on Sunday held talks with the security officials over the deadly al-Labweh incident that happened earlier in the day, urging “utmost efforts to contain the situation and arrest the perpetrators and refer them to the relevant judicial authorities.”

“Resorting to such methods, amid the breakthrough in the issue of the abductees, will further complicate things and create new problems,” Suleiman said.

Hizbullah MP Mohammed Raad revealed on Friday that it was premature to form the new government and criticized Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat for making a proposal whose success is not guaranteed

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5), Raad said a proposal to form a de facto government had been suggested by Premier-designate Tammam Salam since he was tasked with forming the cabinet.