U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon’s acting deputy spokesperson rejected to comment on attempts by the Hizbullah-led alliance to form a new government in Lebanon, saying cabinet formation should be done through dialogue.

“We wouldn’t comment on the precise political makeup of any government. We have simply stressed in general that we would like the process by which a government is formed in Lebanon to be one of dialogue,” said Farhan Haq.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon has stressed that the Lebanese government should “abide by its commitments” and continue to pay its share of the international tribunal’s funds.

In remarks to Arab satellite TV network al-Arabiya, Ban said Lebanon should be loyal to its commitments because the court was established by the Security Council upon the demand of the Lebanese people and government.

U.N. Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Affairs Alain Le Roy expressed “deep concern” over the situation in Lebanon and said UNIFIL has taken “precautionary measures” to confront any possible deterioration.

“We are deeply concerned over the political developments particularly in Beirut,” Le Roy said in New York on Thursday.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon added his backing to the work of a U.N. tribunal investigating the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, in a meeting with his son, current premier Saad Hariri.

During the one-hour meeting in New York on Sunday, Hariri urged Ban to increase pressure on Israel to end all violations of Lebanese borders, and to help prevent it from exploiting underwater oil and gas.

UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti on Friday ruled out an imminent war between Israel and Hizbullah and said peacekeepers hadn't detected Hizbullah rearmament south of the Litani river.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon, the Voice of Freedom and Dignity, radio station, Tenenti reassured the Lebanese that "the situation in the south is very calm."

The U.N. will not define the Lebanese-Israeli maritime border after the Israeli recent discovery of a major gas well across their border, U.N. Spokesman Martin Nesirky said.

His remarks came to confirm a statement by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

High-ranking Lebanese army officials accused the United Nations and UNIFIL of dereliction in delineating Lebanon's maritime borders with Israel.

The sources told As Safir daily that the Lebanese government handed over maps and documents on the delineation of the border to the U.N., which hasn't made a single move.

Ireland's cabinet gave the green light for the deployment of 440 Irish soldiers in south Lebanon as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.

The troops are expected to be deployed in the south in the second half of 2011.

The Security Council on Monday issued a new condemnation of tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border as it renewed the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon without changes to its rules of engagement.

In a unanimous resolution, the Council said it had determined that "the situation in Lebanon continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security" and had therefore decided to extend UNIFIL's mandate until 31 August 2011.