Although Prime Minister Tammam Salam has called the ministers on Tuesday for a cabinet meeting this week, but there are no guarantees that it would convene successfully knowing that several ministers have not confirmed attendance as yet, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday

Until Tuesday evening, ministers of Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement have not confirmed whether they will attend or boycott the session, complementing a similar step when they boycotted the latest cabinet meeting.

Speaker Nabih Berri defended the so-called “package deal” on the presidency, which was subject to criticism from Christian officials, and assured that it does not include any item specifying the jurisdictions of the president, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

“They say that the package deal is over, for me it still exists. Let them say what they want, it's their opinion not mine,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri held talks in Moscow with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his media office said on Tuesday.

Hariri had arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian officials on the latest developments in Lebanon and the region, and the bilateral relations between the two countries, added his media office.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement Politburo member Mustafa Alloush said on Tuesday, the majority of the movement’s deputies reject the nomination of MP Michel Aoun for the post of presidency and consider it as the “greatest evil.”

“%80 of the Mustaqbal deputies are not in favor of the nomination of Change and Reform bloc head MP Michel Aoun,” Alloush told LBCI in an interview.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Tuesday that everyone has reservations about, or reject the nomination of MP Michel Aoun for the post of presidency, As Safir daily reported on Tuesday.

“The political figures that (al-Mustaqbal Movement chief) ex-PM Saad Hariri has met during his consultations have either rejected or expressed reservations about the election of the General (Aoun),” Berri told the daily.

Hizbullah began on Sunday holding daily mourning councils on the occasion of Ashura, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

The party prepared processions tents in the southern cities and towns, NNA added.

AMAL MP Hani Qobeissi stressed on Monday that the table of dialogue is essential for Lebanese politicians to gather and discuss the country’s problems, just like the Taef Accord was to end Lebanon’s civil war, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

MP Michel Aoun is reassured by al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri's willingness to discuss all the options at hand to give momentum to the presidential file, which the MP interpreted as a tacit approval of supporting him for the post, the Kuwaiti As-Seyasah daily reported on Monday.

Although Hariri has not openly disclosed support for Aoun, but founder of the Free Patriotic Movement Aoun is reassured that Hariri is willing to take into consideration all the options available to end the over two-year vacuum at the post, according to information obtained by the daily.

A decision to hold a cabinet meeting this week has not been determined yet, pending consultations between the political parties, the VDL (100.5) quoted sources at the Grand Serail on Monday.

The sources' comments came after media reports alleged that PM Tammam Salam has called for a meeting on Thursday.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement chief ex-PM Saad Hariri met on Saturdaywith Prime Minister Tammam Salam at the Grand Serail after a series of shuttle presidency meetings over the week.

Hariri left the meeting without making a statement, media reports said.