Cement blocks, barbed wire and explosives detection equipment that were placed at the entrance of the Interior Ministry, narrowing a bustling Hamra street in Beirut’s neighborhood, were removed on Tuesday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat said the issue of rehabilitation of Lebanon’s prisons must be included in the government policy statement.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi said that the United Arab Emirates merits the honor to receive Pope Francis on a historic visit and to witness the signature of a declaration in the name of Muslims and Christians in the Arabian Peninsula, the National News Agency reported on Tuesday.

The Progressive Socialist Party said that Speaker Nabih Berri is “willing to back” PSP leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat after a series of fiery tweets with Prime Minister Saad Hariri over the future performance of the government, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat reported on Tuesday.

The ministerial panel drafting the new cabinet's policy statement held a “very positive” first meeting on Monday, Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah said.

“The meeting protracted with the aim of finalizing the biggest part of the draft policy statement and most essential articles were completed,” Jarrah said after the meeting, adding that the discussions will resume at 2:00 pm Tuesday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat on Monday lashed out anew at Prime Minister Saad Hariri and Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil.

“His Majesty is in a hurry and he gets angry quickly. An advice to you and to your colleague in power -- if we don't want to say your partner: things cannot be run this way,” Jumblat tweeted.

President Michel Aoun on Monday condemned perceived political attacks against the new government, noting that it has yet to start its work.

“The formed government comprises new faces and they are good, but it is surprising that we have started hearing criticism against it and against its figures through the media before they even assume their posts and start their work,” Aoun said

Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Jebran Bassil on Monday hit out at Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat, accusing him of seeking to obstruct the new government's work.

“The disturbance attempts started before the start of the government's work,” Bassil said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblat criticized the new government’s plans to borrow billions of dollars for public investment, as he accused government members --without naming anyone--of “greediness.”

The newly appointed Environment Minister, Fadi Jreissati, said on Monday that he is going to propose “appropriate plans” to address the environmental concerns of the Lebanese people, in light of Lebanon’s looming garbage crisis.