Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea described on Saturday remarks by ex-Prime Minister Saad Hariri regarding the cabinet formation process as a “good will gesture,” stressing that his party will not participate in any cabinet that doesn't include “the slightest political change.”

“Hariri's statements are considered a good will gesture and not an agreement on including the army, people, resistance formula in the new cabinet's ministerial statement,” Geagea said in a press conference in Maarab.

Former PM Saad Hariri's stances on the formation of a nine-month stalled cabinet echoed positively as sources close to President Michel Suleiman described his position as a “step forward” in the formation process, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Saturday.

Presidential Palace sources in Baabda described the stance as a step forward giving momentum to the strenuous efforts aiming to speed up the cabinet line-up and to facilitate the mission of PM-designate Tammam Salam in that regard.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hailed former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's recent position in which he said that he would not be opposed to taking part in a cabinet that includes Hizbullah as a political party, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

He told the daily: “We hope all sides would cooperate with Hariri's initiative in order to form an all-embracing government.”

Speaker Nabih Berri welcomed former Prime Minister Saad Hariri's announcement that he is willing to take part in a government that includes Hizbullah as a political party, reported As Safir newspaper on Saturday.

He hailed the former premier's national position, “which he set as a priority above all else despite the difficult situation in Lebanon.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Friday announced that he is showing positivity in the cabinet formation process, noting that Hizbullah is a political party that is leading a “big coalition.”

“We are positive regarding the cabinet formation process. This is something good for the country and for stability in the country,” Hariri said in an interview.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale traveled to France on Friday morning, the U.S. embassy said in a statement.

“While there he is scheduled to meet with Former Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri as well as French officials,” the embassy added.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri described on Thursday the launch of the trial of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon as an historic day for Lebanon.

He said from The Hague: “The course of justice will not halt and there is no point for some sides to continue gloating over their refusal to hand over the accused.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri arrived on Wednesday evening in The Hague to participate in the first session of the trial of the four suspects accused of carrying out the assassination of his father, late premier Rafik Hariri.

Hariri arrived to The Hague from Paris on board a private jet and he was accompanied by deputy Speaker MP Farid Makari, MPs Marwan Hamadeh and Sami Gemayel, former minister Bassem Sabeh, ex-MP Ghattas Khoury, and Hariri's chief of staff, Nader Hariri, a statement released by the ex-PM's office said.

Intensive consultations to form a new cabinet continued on Tuesday among the various political parties as former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held phone talks with his Christian allies.

Hariri telephoned Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and Phalange Party Central Committee Coordinator MP Sami Gemayel and discussed with them the latest developments in the formation process, after the two Christian leaders voiced concerns on Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri expressed optimism on Monday over the ongoing contacts to form a new cabinet between the political foes, hailing the efforts exerted by head of al-Mustaqbal movement former Prime Minister Saad Hariri.

“Ex-PM Saad Hariri isn't only cooperating with endeavors to form an all-embracing cabinet but also cooperating to remove all obstacles confronting it,” Berri said in comments published in local newspapers.