Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri warned on Sunday against any attempt to drag the southern city of Sidon into a “confrontation with the state,” holding Hizbullah responsible for “provoking the city’s residents.”

“We warn against attempts to drag Sidon into a confrontation with the state and the army ,” Hariri said in a statement he released commenting on the latest clashes between the military institution and supporters of Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir.

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abu Faour and Taymour Jumblat are likely to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday to meet with the head of the Saudi intelligence and ex-Premier Saad Hariri, a well-informed official said Saturday.

The official told As Safir daily that the meeting of Abu Faour and Jumblat with Prince Bandar bin Sultan and Hariri, who is also the head of al-Mustaqbal movement, would come amid a new proposal to give the March 14 alliance eight ministers in the new cabinet along with a ninth minister, who would also be part of the share of centrists.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Thursday sent a cable of congratulations to Iran's President-elect Hassan Rowhani, hoping his election will open the door to Lebanese-Iranian relations “that are not only based on regional military alliances.”

“Your election as President of the Islamic Republic of Iran was well received by countries, people and forces of moderation, that look forward to a new and positive Iranian role in consolidating stability and openness and keeping discord away from our peoples,” Hariri said.

Hizbullah deputy leader Sheikh Naim Qassem rejected on Wednesday the 8-8-8 cabinet formula, calling for a “balanced representation” of the party and its allies.

"Hizbullah completely rejects the 8-8-8 cabinet formula now and in the future,” Qassem announced in a speech he gave at the funeral of two the party's members killed in Syria, calling for a political council of ministers that is “based on partnership.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat is expected to head to Saudi Arabia capital soon to discuss the cabinet crisis, An Nahar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the daily, Jumblat will discuss the cabinet standstill amid reports that he voiced support Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam's efforts to equally distribute portfolios among the March 14 coalition, the March 8 alliance and the centrists, whereby each would be represented by eight ministers.

Former prime minister Saad Hariri snapped back on Friday at Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, accusing him of replacing the entire Lebanese state with “Hizbullah's Shura Council.”

Nasrallah “showed skill in exploiting the pains of those who were wounded in the confrontations with the Israeli enemy to cover up for the involvement in fighting against large segments of the Syrian people,” Hariri said in a statement issued by his press office only hours after a speech by Nasrallah marking the Wounded Resistance Fighter Day.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri lamented on Thursday Hizbullah's fighting in Syria, which has ruined “the fraternal ties among the Lebanese people, especially between Sunnis and Shiites.”

He said in an address to the Lebanese people: “Lebanon needs, now more than ever, the word of truth against the oppressive arms.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat denounced Sunday's incident near the Iranian embassy describing it as a “barbaric” act, and called on related authorities to continue investigations to uncover the perpetrators, he said on Monday.

“What happened is strongly deprecated. We denounce the barbaric assault where sticks and batons were used, just like in old centuries, which raises major questions on the objectives and goals of the assault,” Jumblat stated in his weekly editorial in al-Anbaa website.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat emphasized that he will discuss with former PM Saad Hariri the latest developments in the northern city of Tripoli, stressing that the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad will not be through firing at Jabal Mohsen.

“Everyone must know that firing at Jabal Mohsen neighborhood will not lead to the fall of Syrian President Bashar Assad. It only harms the city itself,” stressed Jumblat in remarks to al-Akhbar daily on Thursday.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri called on the army to assume its responsibilities and safeguard the northern city of Tripoli, expressing fear that a “wicked” plot is targeting the city and its residents.

“We completely reject the incidents in Tripoli,” Hariri said in a statement issued late on Monday.