Despite the political deadlock in Lebanon, officials including Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat are gearing up to head to foreign countries.

Jumblat had pointed out in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday that he has been “reincarnated before his death... and I will be in China currently until a breakthrough is achieved.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held a series of contacts with several rival parties to push forward the cabinet formation process that reached a standstill after it was put on front burner recently.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that Hariri reportedly held a telephone conversation with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

The new government of Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is expected to be announced on Thursday or over the weekend following the return of President Michel Suleiman from a trip to Tunisia.

An Nahar newspaper said Thursday that Suleiman and Salam put the final touches on the cabinet lineup during a meeting at Baabda Palace on Wednesday, their second in three days.

Visiting Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino kicked off an official tour on senior Lebanese officials on Wednesday to discuss the bilateral ties between the two countries and the latest developments locally and in the region.

Bonino held talks with her Lebanese counterpart Adnan Mansour at the Bustros Palace.

A two-hour meeting held between President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam on Monday signaled that the formation of the new government was imminent despite the alleged insistence of the Free Patriotic Movement to hold onto the energy and telecommunications portfolios.

Suleiman and Salam discussed the ministerial portfolios and ways to choose the names of new ministers in a 24-member cabinet based on the 8-8-8 formula, media reports said Tuesday.

Speaker Nabih Berri warned on Wednesday from impeding the cabinet formation process, stressing that the concept of rotation in ministerial portfolios should be inclusive.

“We are used to hold others responsible for our crises but it's clear that the problem is from within the local parties,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed on Tuesday for the 9th time a parliamentary session dedicated to tackling several controversial draft-laws over lack of quorum.

Berri set the new day to March 4.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that contacts are ongoing among the Lebanese foes to end the cabinet standstill, pointing out that consultations haven't reached common grounds yet.

“I have done everything I can to facilitate the cabinet formation process and I'm waiting for others,” Berri said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper.

Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil stressed on Friday that the adoption of the concept of rotating ministerial portfolios in the upcoming cabinet hinders the Free Patriotic Movement's participation.

“Those who think that they can impose on us a de-facto matter should realize that what we can do is bigger than the current political situation... We are strong,” Bassil said in an interview in al-Joumhouria newspaper.

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour stressed on Thursday the cabinet stalemate doesn't necessarily indicate that negotiations between the rival parties have slowed down.

“As long as there is political will to form a national unity cabinet that safeguards the country” the cabinet would see the light, Abou Faour said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.