President Michel Aoun on Monday urged Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to “take the initiative” regarding the stalled Cabinet formation process.

“Pluralism creates problems during the formation process. We are listening to the demands and seeking to create consensus,” Aoun said at a joint press conference with visiting Swiss leader Alain Berset at the Presidential Palace in Baabda.

The Special Tribunal for Lebanon “will not issue a ruling in September” as circulated in media outlets, and the remarks made by Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah about the court “reflect his uneasiness” with its outcome, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

Hizbullah has reportedly “received an official request” from the Syrian leadership that its troops “should remain in Syria for an additional period of time,” even after the end of fighting in the north-west and north-east regions, al-Akhbar newspaper reported on Saturday.

Relations between President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri are “not broken” because of conflict over the Cabinet formation, and the two men are holding contacts on a daily basis away from media spotlight, al-Akhbar daily reported on Saturday.

Swiss President Alain Berset is expected to arrive on an official visit in Beirut during the weekend, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley criticized a meeting held between Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and a delegation from Yemen's Houthi rebels on August 19.

President Michel Aoun received on Friday a delegation of Lebanese nationals living in Gulf countries, the National News Agency reported.

Sunni lawmakers not affiliated with al-Mustaqbal Movement voiced calls on Friday for their representation in the new Cabinet, nevertheless rejecting infringement on the powers of the Prime Minister.

President Michel Aoun received caretaker Information Minister Melhem Riachi, of the Lebanese Forces, at the Presidential Palace in Baabda, the National News Agency reported on Friday.

General Security Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim stressed to al-Akhbar daily in an interview on Friday that the goal of the directorate “during the next five years” is to shift to an online operating system.