Al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri warned late Friday that the March 14 alliance could impose tougher conditions on the form of the new government after the assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah.

In remarks to LBCI TV station, the former prime minister said: “We were asking for a neutral cabinet, but now we could call for … (the formation of) a government (made up) of March 14” figures.

Politicians, clergymen, diplomats, civil society activists and grieving relatives converged on Mohammed al-Amin mosque in downtown Beirut on Saturday to extend their condolences to the family of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah.

President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Premier Najib Miqati were at the helm of top officials who condoled the family and the leader of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc former PM Fouad Saniora.

The Higher Defense Council agreed on Saturday to refer the assassination case of ex-Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah and the "latest crimes" to the Judicial Council, Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati and the HDC announced.

“During our meeting with (President Michel) Suleiman, the caretaker Justice Minister joined us, so we asked him to prepare the appropriate documents to refer yesterday’s crime and the recent crimes to the Judicial Council,” Miqati said following an emergency HDC meeting at Baabda Palace.

Damascus on Friday rejected accusations by the March 14 camp that the Syrian regime and its allies were involved in the assassination of former minister Mohammed Shatah, describing the allegations as a “stupid and futile” attempt to cover up for “financing terrorism in Lebanon and the region.”

“Some figures in Lebanon always resort to the approach of launching accusations whenever a painful assassination happens in brotherly Lebanon,” Syrian Information Minister Omran al-Zohbi said in a statement.

The deadly car bomb that ripped through downtown Beirut shook buildings and rattled windows, triggering fear among many people that "nowhere is safe" anymore in Lebanon.

The country has seen a rise in attacks linked to the fighting in neighboring Syria, but Friday's explosion in the heart of Beirut brought the unrest even closer to home.

Hizbullah described on Friday the assassination of former Finance Minsiter and adviser of ex-PM Saad Hariri, Mohammed Shatah, as “heinous.”

“The assassination of Shatah only benefits the enemies of Lebanon,” Hizbullah said in a statement.

The International community condemned on Friday the “cowardly” assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah in a car bombing in Beirut, describing him as a “wise” and “tolerant” man.

“Sad news from Beirut,” British Foreign Secretary William Hague said via twitter.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri condemned on Friday the assassination of his adviser Mohammed Shatah, saying that Lebanon lost moderate figure who believed in peace and an independent Lebanon.

He said in a statement: “Shatah's murderers are the same ones who assassinated former Premier Rafik Hariri.”

Al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri warned on Tuesday that Lebanon would suffer from the “gravest consequences” if the dangers surrounding it were not averted through “wisdom.”

“Christmas and the New Year have come amid imminent dangers surrounding Lebanon and several friendly Arab countries,” Hariri said in a statement aimed at sending holiday greetings to the Lebanese.

Speaker Nabih Berri ruled out on Monday reports saying that there is a dispute between him and President Michel Suleiman, describing the relations as “normal.”

“History repeats itself as the situation we're witnessing today is similar to the one we lived in 2007 with some simple differences,” Berri told local newspapers.