Speaker Nabih Berri said that his efforts regarding the government formation are at a standstill, denying reports saying that he agreed with Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat to halt consultations over the matter.

“I haven't contacted Jumblat regarding the matter. According to my information everything is still the same,” Berri said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

A parliamentary session aimed at discussing a number of draft-laws is expected to be postponed for the fourth time on Tuesday, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Monday.

It said that Speaker Nabih Berri is likely to postpone the two-day session in order to avoid further tensions in Lebanon in light of the ongoing political disputes and security unrest.

Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday blamed the deadly bombing that targeted Dahieh earlier in the day on “the hand of organized crime and terrorism,” saying “it is undoubtedly a black Israeli hand.”

“This crime only serves the Israeli enemy, which has been plotting to undermine the elements of national unity that were the elements that led to Lebanon's victory in 2006,” Berri said in a 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.

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.

Speaker Nabih Berri condemned the abduction of two Turkish pilots in Beirut on Friday, while questioning the silence over last week's Israeli violation of the Lebanese border, reported As Safir newspaper on Monday.

He told the daily: “Regardless of our position on Turkey's official approach on the kidnapping of the Lebanese pilgrims in Aazaz, the Turkish pilots are innocent and should not be harmed.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati condemned on Friday the kidnapping of a Turkish pilot and copilot in Beirut, saying Lebanese authorities were exerting all efforts to find the abductors.

"We expressed our condemnation of the kidnapping, we are in the process of making every effort to determine the identities of the kidnappers," Miqati told Agence France Presse.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly stressed on Wednesday that the Lebanese people deserve a government that reflects their aspirations.

She said: “Lebanon would be better placed to face current regional and domestic challenges with a fully-empowered government in place.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has defended Hizbullah against accusations that it is involved in the latest rocket attack on the Baabda area, saying it is a respectable party.

“Hizbullah is not only innocent from this act but its ethics and its path of resistance prevent it from such a behavior,” Berri told An Nahar newspaper published on Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri noted on Thursday that Lebanon fell into vacuum due to the ongoing disputes among the rival parties, adding that a lack of political and security initiatives has thwarted a solution to the deadlock.

He said: “The powers' banking on the conclusion of the Syrian crisis will not end Lebanon's problems.”