Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held a series of contacts with several rival parties to push forward the cabinet formation process that reached a standstill after it was put on front burner recently.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that Hariri reportedly held a telephone conversation with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

Last minute obstacles linked to two key security portfolios prevented the formation of the government on Thursday after the March 8 alliance expressed reservations on making the two of them as part of the share of the March 14 camp.

President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam were planning to issue the cabinet formation decrees on Thursday but the Hizbullah-led March 8 team insisted to stick to the threatened boycott of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri praised on Wednesday the Bkirki Treaty that was announced by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, saying that it represents a “true Lebanese vision of coexistence” in Lebanon.

He said in a statement: “The treaty should serve as a roadmap for the rise of the state.”

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat hailed on Monday former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's recent stands on local and regional developments.

He lauded to the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website the former premier's “refusal to drag the Sunni sect towards the conflict between Hizbullah and al-Qaida.”

Former Prime Minister and head of al-Mustaqbal movement Saad Hariri warned on Saturday the Lebanese in general and the Sunni sect in particular from supporting fishy calls that urge them to involve the country in rejected and condemned wars.

“The Lebanese and the Sunni sect reject to be part of any war in Lebanon or the region between Hizbullah and al-Qaida,” Hariri said in a statement issued by his press office.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Monday his total rejection to the people-army-resistance equation, stressing also that he will never abandon his allies.

“The people-army-resistance equation is completely rejected, full stop,” Hariri said in an interview on Future TV.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea warned on Monday that his assassination would have major repercussions on the March 14 forces and Lebanese policies in general.

He told al-Arabiya television: “Preparations to assassinate me are ongoing.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday lauded the stances of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri over the cabinet formation process, describing him as a “statesman” who has put “the higher national interest” above all else.

“One must praise ex-PM Saad Hariri's stance, which came at a critical moment that Lebanon and the Arab region are going through, amid rapid changes and major transformations that are being accompanied by rivers of blood and incessant bleeding against the backdrop of unprecedented sectarian and religious divisions,” said Jumblat in his weekly op-ed in al-Anbaa.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun hailed on Monday ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri's stance regarding the cabinet formation process, describing it as “brave.”

“Hariri's stance facilitates the formation of the new cabinet and is a foundation for also forming a new parliament,” Aoun said.

Officials close to Premier-designate Tammam Salam expressed a cautious optimism on the government formation process and said ex-Premier Saad Hariri proved his good intentions when he announced he was ready to share power with Hizbullah.

Salam is “cautiously optimistic” over the latest developments after nine months of stalemate on the cabinet formation, the officials told al-Mustaqbal daily published on Sunday.