Efforts to lineup the government have not seized over the weekend, as meetings and contacts were intensified to ease the obstacles mainly the Druze and Christian representation.

President Michel Aoun hailed on Monday the reopening of a key trade route between Syria and Jordan, once vital for the transit of goods in the Middle East, describing it as beneficial for Lebanon’s productive sector.

Grand Mufti of the Republic Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia on Monday, condemning what he described as “political extortion” targeting it over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the National News Agency reported on Monday.

Deryan expressed his resentment saying SA is being subject for “malicious goals intending to undermine its wise and rational policy led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz.”

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia "in the face of the campaigns targeting it," Hariri’s press office said.

An Israeli reconnaissance airplane has incessantly been hovering over Lebanese areas recently, as the State-run National News Agency reported that an Israeli spy device planted east of the southern town of Hallusieh was remotely destroyed on Sunday by an Israeli drone.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri contacted President Michel Aoun on Saturday congratulating him on his safe return from Armenia after his participation in the Francophonie Summit.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea on Saturday said the recent student elections reflect the wide popularity and representation of the Lebanese Forces, as he hinted at Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil saying the “main goal of some is to curtail the LF representation.”

France does not want to be accused of “meddling” in Lebanon’s affairs which made French President Emmanuel Macron refrain from making a statement after his meeting with President Michel Aoun on Friday, amid dark prospects in light of a government deadlock, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

According to information obtained by the daily, it said the meeting between the two men, on the sidelines of the Francophone Summit in Armenia, was “ordinary,” and that Macron has asserted support for Lebanon but was “frank and clear” it could lose grants allocated at the CEDRE conference if the government gridlock persists.

Grand Jaafarite Shiite Mufti Sheikh Ahmed Qabalan urged the “ruling class” in Lebanon to end wrangling over the country’s oil and gas wealth, asking them to focus instead on the people’s concerns and livelihood matters.

“It is painful to see the people in power trying to secretly put their hand on the oil wealth, while the country is passing through the most difficult circumstances. This wealth belongs to the people, it is their right and we warn against any attempts to steal it,” said Qabalan in a speech during Friday prayers.

President Michel stressed on Friday after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron that the formation of Lebanon’s government is strictly a Lebanese affair, noting that his presence in Armenia is not meant to discuss the formation process.

“Forming a Lebanese government is strictly a Lebanese affair. I did not come to Armenia to discuss the government issue,” said Aoun after a closed-door meeting with Macron on the sidelines of the Francophonie Summit in Yerevan.