President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday that the same terrorists that carried out the blast in the Beirut neighborhood of Haret Hreik earlier in the day, are the ones planting terrorism, killing and destructing all Lebanese regions.

Suleiman's comments came shortly after a deadly explosion hit Beirut's Dahieh neighborhood, killing at least 4 people and wounding over 70 others.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that the intention behind the formation of a new non partisan government is to exclude Hizbullah, a process that he rejected by warning that the lawmakers of his parliamentary bloc would not give their vote of confidence to it.

Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Thursday quoted Berri as saying that his Amal movement would not “isolate” Hizbullah which has fought and resisted Israel.

Syrian jets carried out an airstrike on Wednesday on the outskirts of the eastern border town of Arsal, media reports said.

Ten people were wounded in the airstrike, eyewitnesses told the state-run National News Agecny.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi hailed on Wednesday Saudi Arabia's financial donation to the Lebanese army, hoping that it would pave the way to Lebanese political initiatives among the rival parties.

He said during new year mass: “We hope the donation will help lead to an understanding between the rival powers and to the formation of a new government.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Tuesday described the announced Saudi donation to the Lebanese Army as an “important step,” urging all parties to respond to it positively.

“It is a must to laud and hail the important step that was achieved through the Saudi-French cooperation that is aimed at supporting and boosting the capabilities of the Lebanese Army,” said Jumblat in a statement issued by the PSP.

Speaker Nabih Berri has described Lebanon as a “psychiatric hospital,” warning that the next bomb target could be an official from the Shiite sect in an attempt to widen the divide between Muslims and create strife.

In remarks published in As Safir daily on Tuesday, Berri expressed fears that a Shiite personality would be targeted in the aftermath of the assassination of former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah, a Sunni.

President Michel Suleiman hoped on Monday that the new year will witness the formation of a new government.

He said: “Lebanon should take advantage of the current international support in order to form a new cabinet.”

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam stressed on Monday that the Saudi 3 billion dollars grant proves that Lebanon still enjoys support from its friends, who are ready to fortify its strength and legal institutions.

“The grant gives us hope” amid the ongoing local developments, Salam said in comments published in the Saudi Okaz newspaper.

Lebanon is set to receive a new grant to aid the Lebanese army from the United Arab of Emirates, media reports said on Monday.

The grants aim at bolstering the Lebanese army’s capabilities amid the rising security threats as the turmoil in war-torn neighboring Syria is spilling over into the country.

Baabda Palace officials denied that President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam had set a date for the formation of the new government.

The officials, who were not identified, told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Monday that Suleiman wants to speed up the consultations over the formation of the cabinet.