Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun considered on Saturday that the new cabinet is a “key for restoring relations” between different factions in the country.

"This week we have witnessed two major events in the country,” Aoun said following the announcement of the new cabinet.

Former PM Saad Hariri congratulated on Saturday the new PM Tammam Salam on the formation of a cabinet, praising his patience and wisdom after a 10-month political vacuum in the country.

“I hope that the new government heralds well-beginning for Lebanon and the Lebanese, and that it is able to face the constitutional and national entitlements at this critical stage the nation is witnessing,” said Hariri.

Former Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi accused on Saturday Hizbullah of obstructing efforts to form a cabinet and of obstructing the functioning of the state.

He said in a statement: “Hizbullah has become addicted to obstructing the functioning of the state and it sought to turn the Interior Ministry portfolio into an obstacle in forming a government.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri stressed Friday his rejection of any president who might be in the service of any foreign “tutelage” and urged Speaker Nabih Berri to convince Hizbullah to withdraw its fighters from Syria and start implementing the Baabda Declaration.

“As the Mustaqbal Movement refuses to be at the image of Hizbullah, we refuse to be at the image of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) or al-Nusra Front, and refuse any call to involve the movement and Sunnis in Lebanon in the war between Hizbullah and al-Qaida,” Hariri said in a speech via video link that was broadcast during a rally organized by the March 14 forces to commemorate the ninth anniversary of the assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri.

A rumor was circulated Wednesday afternoon about an alleged arrest of an Internal Security Forces member who is part of the Center House's guard platoon over ties to detained top Qaida-linked militant Naim Abbas.

Al-Jadeed television identified the man as H. A., saying he is a member of the guard platoon of the Center House, the headquarters of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in downtown Beirut.

President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam are scheduled to hold a crucial meeting on Wednesday to resolve the dispute on the new government.

An Nahar daily quoted sources as saying that Wednesday will be decisive in breaking the ten-month stalemate.

Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora returned to Lebanon on Tuesday after a short visit to the capital of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh, for talks with former Prime Minister Saad Hariri concerning the latest local and regional developments.

According to An Nahar newspaper, talks between al-Mustaqbal chief Saad Hariri and Saniora will focus on the latest developments regarding the cabinet formation process.

Officials close to al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri and caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil have denied that any meeting has taken place between them in Dubai.

The officials, who were not identified, told LBCI TV network on Sunday night that no such meeting was held between Hariri and Bassil.

Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora accused on Monday the Free Patriotic Movement of impeding the government formation with the help of Hizbullah, stressing that the two sides backed down on their commitments.

“All parties agreed to facilitate the formation of the cabinet, however, now some sides are obstructing the matter and imposing condition,” Saniora said in comments published in the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper.

Caretaker Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil on Sunday responded to remarks voiced by President Michel Suleiman about the issue of ministerial portfolios, as a media report said the minister met with former Premier Saad Hariri in Dubai.

“Whether you understand us or misunderstand us, we are exerting efforts to make Lebanon bigger and more important than a ministerial portfolio,” Bassil said in remarks from Dubai to the Sawt el-Mada radio station, which is affiliated with the minister's Free Patriotic Movement.