Efforts to form a new government have reached a dead-end given the tense local and regional developments, reported the daily An Nahar Friday.

President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri's efforts have not yielded any results, while al-Joumhouria newspaper Friday said that these efforts will gain steam as soon as the disputes over the extension of parliament's term and holding the elections are resolved.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat called on Wednesday for full support to the Lebanese army's missions, warning that any failure to provide political and security coverage for the military's missions in the northern city of Tripoli would be considered a conspiracy.

“All political parties are required today more than ever, to back the Lebanese army,”stressed Jumblat in a statement on Wednesday.

Speaker Nabih Berri is holding consultations with political foes away from media spotlight as a last attempt for reaching common ground over a new electoral law before resorting to the extension of the parliament's mandate.

A proposal made by Zahle MP Nicolas Fattoush to extend the mandate of the parliament by two years was sent to lawmakers later on Wednesday to study it.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed on Monday the need to form a new government in Lebanon that “can help restore the role of constitutional institutions in Lebanon.”

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “No party should overpower the other in a new cabinet.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed regret on Monday on the sharp rift between Lebanese foes over the new electoral law, pointing out that there are only two options either political vacuum or extending the mandate of the parliament.

“Officials didn't act responsibly,” Miqati said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

President Michel Suleiman is leaning towards advocating the formation of a 24-member government that distributes portfolios equally between the March 8, March 14, and centrist camps, reported the daily An Nahar on Friday.

His visitors quoted him as saying that he will endorse any cabinet line-up that enjoys the support of the majority of lawmakers.

Speaker Nabih Berri withdrew Thursday evening a proposal that mixes the 1960 electoral law and the controversial Orthodox Gathering draft law after al-Mustaqbal Movement rejected it.

Under Berri's hybrid vote plan, 64 MPs would be be elected according to the winner-takes-all system and the remaining half under the proportional representation system.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Tuesday that he belongs to the centrists bloc more than President Michel Suleiman, Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat.

“If centrism applies to anyone then it's me... Ever since I presumed the tasks of the speaker, I tried to communicate with all parties and I have always sought to mend ties to achieve consensus,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

The ties between Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Hizbullah has deteriorated over the controversial dispute over the formation of the cabinet, media reports said on Tuesday.

Sources close to Jumblat told al-Liwaa newspaper that consultations are ongoing to reach common ground over the distribution of portfolios and to grant the March 8 alliance further guarantees over the matter.

The Constitutional Council rejected Monday an appeal filed by the National Struggle Front and a number of MPs against a law suspending the deadline for submitting nominations for the parliamentary elections.

The council said the law did not violate Article 42 of the Constitution, which stipulates that “general elections for the renewal of the Chamber shall take place within a sixty day period preceeding the expiration of its mandate."