Speaker Nabih Berri said that Premier-designate Najib Miqati is continuing his efforts to form the new government, in remarks to An-Nahar and As-Safir newspapers.

“There’s no excuse to delay the government formation,” Berri said, rejecting to talk about so-called sovereign portfolios and non-sovereign portfolios.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati informed on Saturday the Higher Islamic Council that he is facing obstacles in the government formation process, reported the daily An Nahar on Sunday.

He added that he had told it that “I have taken it upon myself to serve my country and its stability.”

Contacts aimed at forming the new government made a “serious progress” on the differences over the Sunni representation and the share of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun’s Change and Reform bloc, As Safir daily reported Saturday.

An Nahar newspaper also said that intense meetings between Premier-designate Najib Miqati and March 8 officials led to an agreement on the shares of each side but the leaders are staying mum on the issue.

Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed on Friday that he suggested a way out of the difficulties that are facing the new government formation, but refused to give its details.

“I suggested a solution to solve the complications facing the cabinet lineup,” Berri remarked to As-Safir newspaper.

The wave of optimism surrounding the formation of the Lebanese government has diminished after Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun renewed his demands over the distribution of portfolios.

The pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat reported on Saturday that Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh’s recent visits to Syria where they met Syrian President Bashar Assad presented a “strong push towards forming the government.”

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati reportedly presented his first draft cabinet lineup to President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday, a sign that the new government could be formed soon.

An Nahar daily and a source close to Miqati said in remarks published Wednesday that both officials discussed the draft lineup which is a mix of politicians and technocrats.

President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday noted that broadening the circle of contacts and meetings among the political parties was "an attempt to make a breakthrough in the ongoing consultations to form the new government."

"The current period requires everyone, without exception, to rise above disputes, selfishness and individual shares and interests for the sake of the rise of a government that garners confidence and works on boosting the productivity of ministries, administrations and institutions," the president added.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati has said contacts on the formation of the government are making progress and stressed all problems could be solved.

In remarks to As Safir newspaper published Tuesday, Miqati said: “The channels of contact are open in all directions and are making progress.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has stressed that there were no regional obstacles to the formation of the cabinet, saying his meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Monday night came as part of the need to unify the vision of the March 8 camp.

“The meeting was excellent,” Jumblat said in remarks published by An Nahar daily on Tuesday. “It comes as part of necessary steps to unify the vision within the single team.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun continued over the weekend to hold onto his demands for 12 ministries, including the interior ministry portfolio, in a 30-member cabinet, Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s circles told An Nahar daily in remarks published Sunday.

Aoun’s demands have further delayed the formation of the government, the circles said.