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.”

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour and son of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, Taymour, arrived in Riyadh to hold consultations with a number of Saudi officials who are following up on the situation in Lebanon, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Wednesday.

Informed sources told the daily that the two officials will not meet former Premier Saad Hariri, who has been in Sardinia since the end of the Eid al-Fitr holiday over the weekend.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat delegated his son Taymour and caretaker minister Wael Abou Faour to Saudi Arabia for talks with al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri on efforts to help line up the cabinet, the As Safir daily reported on Tuesday.

Abou Faour, Caretaker Minister of Social Affairs, and Taymour Jumblat arrived in Jeddah Monday evening for talks with ex-PM Hariri, the newspaper said.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Sunday telephoned Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji and discussed with him the attack that targeted the convoy of Arsal municipal chief Ali al-Hujairi earlier in the day, the ex-PM's office said.

"Hariri stressed the need to take the measures necessary to pursue the perpetrators, noting that this incident is part of the nonstop attempts to drag the country into further tensions,” the office added.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani warned on Thursday against strife and called for unity among Sunnis despite being snubbed by the sect's top political leaders.

Qabbani made the appeal during his Eid al-Fitr sermon at the Mohammed al-Amin mosque in downtown Beirut. No officials attended the prayers.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam is planning to visit Saudi Arabia for Omra on Eid al-Fitr holiday, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday amid reports of a trip by President Michel Suleiman to Riyadh.

According to al-Liwaa, Salam would have the occasion to meet with top Saudi officials and al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-Premier Saad Hariri during his expected visit.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat noted on Monday that years ago Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has sought to liberate all of Lebanese occupied territory, but the party is now seeking to liberate the whole of Palestine from Israeli occupation.

He said in response to Nasrallah's recent speech: “Let the Palestinians decide their fate themselves.”

Hizbullah deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem reiterated his calls for a national unity cabinet, stating also that the resistance's weapons cannot be compared to arms used on the streets.

"The arms of the resistance are in the interest of Lebanon and this has been proven on ground,” Qassem said during an Iftar banquet on Saturday.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stated on Saturday that two armies cannot exist in one country because that would contradict the demands of sovereignty and the official armed forces, reported Voice of Lebanon radio (100.5).

He told the radio: “Lebanon's salvation cannot be achieved without complete loyalty to the nation.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday announced that he rejects taking part in a cabinet in which Hizbullah has representatives, stressing also the state and illegal weapons "cannot coexist."

"We will not participate in a council of ministers if Hizbullah has representatives in it,” Hariri said in a televised speech he gave during an Iftar banquet held by al-Mustaqbal Movement, revealing also that he has suggested forming a cabinet without his party's participation.