Time shown on the left is the local time in Beirut, Lebanon

The reason for the optimism is the unifying attitude of the president . Yesterday Siniora said after meeting with the president that he may surprise us before Monday with the news about the birth date of the cabinet and today Berri sources have reported positive developments after Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri met with the president

General Aoun continues to be another focal point . Aoun came under heavy attack by several Muslim Sunni leaders including his allies in the opposition accusing him of seeking to undermine the position of the prime minister . Today Fathi Yakan , a key member of the opposition launched an attack against him . Yesterday former premier Omar Karami accused Aoun of "seeking to change the Prime Minister's position into "an office clerk." Karami said Aoun's suggestion is aimed at "stripping the prime minister of all the powers gained by the Taef accord." He added "This is totally unacceptable."

The other focal point is the Shebaa Farms . Israel has offered to negotiate a peace treat with Lebanon to include the return of the Shebaa farms to Lebanon. US Secretary of State Rice met Thursday with UN chief Ban- Ki Moon to discuss the issue. But Hezbollah is insisting that regardless what happens to Shebaa they are going to hold onto their arms and will refuse to disarm!

Friday

23:21 Nasri Khouri , secretary general of higher Lebanese Syrian council said the subject of the diplomatic relations between Lebanon and Syria has not come up for discussion officially as of yet .

22:35 Tom Casey, spokesman for the US State department confirmed that the US intends to continue discussions with Israel and Lebanon over the Shebaa farms issue

20:11 MP Ali Bazzi of the Liberation and Development bloc confirmed "intensive contacts and meetings" on the pending national unity government by both the pro-government and opposition alliances. Bazzi noted that the national unity government was "a victory for all," adding that it was impermissible for anyone to dispel the satisfaction and ease generated by the Doha agreement.

19:10 MP Robert Ghanem: said "Justice Committee to continue study of electoral law and added "I hope the law would be ready by the time the national unity government is formed"

18:20 MP Hariri met with Vice Chairman of the Romanian Government

17:50 March 14 coalition held a meeting to discuss the government crisis.
The inability to create a national unity government till now was blamed on the state's relationship with different groups in the country.

MP Atallah told NNA that the first reactions to the Shebaa Farms issue "clearly demonstrates the unwillingness not to discuss the issue of disarmament." He urged "serious dialogue on the extension of state authority."

17:22 Andraous fears Hezbollah's intentions. He is concerned about a possible Iranian-backed Hezbollah plan to take control over Lebanon. Nasrallah last month declared that he is a member of the Iranian Wilayat al Faqih.

17:05 The Syrian Social National Party (SSNP) on Friday elected MP Assaad Hardan chairman by unanimous vote. Hardan is to assume the party leadership from its current chairman Ali Qanso in 15 days. The party also elected Ex-minister Mahmoud Abdul Khaleq chairman of its higher council.

17:10 Grenade found in Koura

16:40 MP Ghassan Tueni advises Siniora to quit cabinet-forming mission by Tuesday, after the spiritual summit if he is unable to form a cabinet by then. "it would be more honorable for him to apologize and quit." Tueni said

15:47 PM Siniora met with Deputy Prime Minister of Romania and an ambassador from Ukraine. Siniora contacted the Saudi Foreign Minister regarding the need to separate the subject of Hezbollah's weapons and the Israeli withdrawal from Shebaa Farms, which must be done without any negotiations.

14:30 Ehud Barak: the prisoner exchange with Hezbollah will face problems if the kidnapped Israeli soldiers were killed

13:20 Siniora talked with Saudi Foreign Minister about preparations for the Donor Conference in Vienna

13:00 Governor of the Bank of Lebanon: The conversion from Lebanese pounds to the dollar retreated 67% a positive development despite the difficult circumstances

12:20 Azaour: If the government formation is not accelerated it would lead to economic paralysis and those who are demanding sovereign and no sovereign ministries should realize the seriousness of this situation

11:50 MP Ibrahim Kanaan to NTV: It is known in politics and law that the parliament does not stop functioning, whether there is a caretaker government or a new one.

11:40 sources told "LBC:" There is no new development over forming the government and the focus is still on Aoun's insistence on the portfolios and there are rumors that Amal ad Hezbollah may give up their sovereign portfolio in favor of Aoun

11:20 Voice of Lebanon: the "Gazelle" military aircraft that did an emergency landing in the plains of Taybeh in Baalabek was burnt completely . another airplane evacuated the injured pilots to the hospital for treatment

11:22 MP Nabil Nicolas told ANB Television: The problem is not about ministerial portfolios or candidates, but about the repartition of the portfolios. We as a bloc deserve to get a sovereign ministry because of our representation among Christians.

11:19 MP Nawwar Al-Sahili told NTV: We consider that Minister Elias Murr was politically close to March 14, and it is up to the president to decide on giving him a ministerial portfolio.

10:59 Former Minister Wiam Wahhab told Al-Manar Television: What do we have in common with the majority that we can use as the basis for a national-unity government? We cannot reach a consensus with them. Either they win, or we defeat them.

10:54 MP Mohammed Qabbani told Future TV: Does Aoun want a ministerial portfolio or does he just want to block the establishment of the government?
It is the president's right to determine the ministers representing him in the government and their ministerial portfolios. President Michel Suleiman trusts Minister Elias Murr and doesn't want to appoint someone else he does not trust

10:49 ANB Television: The emergency army helicopter landing in the Bekaa left 14 people wounded.

10:41 LBC Television: The two Lebanese soldiers wounded during the emergency army helicopter landing are a major and a cadet.

10:21 Two Lebanese soldiers were wounded during the emergency landing of an army helicopter in the village of Taybeh in Baalbek.

08:32 Minister Trad Hamadeh told the Voice of Lebanon : The Resistance's weapons will stay put and be used for the defense of Lebanon and all Lebanese people against the Israeli enemy, which is on our border, the border of occupied Palestine. They want to use a UN resolution on Shebaa farms to eliminate the Resistance.

06:59 As Safir: A diplomatic source in Paris has revealed that the Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak confirmed to close associates during his visit to France that the deal for the prisoners exchange between Hezbollah and Israel is a done deal and could be executed within a couple of days or maximum one week . He also confirmed that the return of the 2 kidnapped Israeli soldiers is going to cost Israel dearly

06:03 Speaker Berri's sources: The visit to the Baabda Palace by the Speaker was to overcome political obstacles

05:56 opposition sources: communications in the last few hours, including that with the prime minister and leaders of the pro-government forces, had taken a different path , and went further than the talk about quotas and sovereign government allocations ... Talked about the government as a whole.

05:50 2 wounded in clashes between Jund al-Sham and Fatah in Ein el-Hilweh Palestinian Refugee camp

05:43 "As Safir": a positive ambience prevailed during the most recent contacts, and things started to move in a positive direction after the recent meeting between Berri and the president at the Republican Palace

05:32 Speaker Berri's sources denied that he asked for the ministry of communication for his bloc , even though he considers this ministry super sovereign and he named it " the oil ministry of Lebanon " because it is the main source of income for the government

Thursday

23:05 Lebanese security forces detain the fugitive Hassan Hooshoo wanted for drug trafficking and weapons possession, forgery and theft

22:10 Siniora to participants in the second conference of the Arab businessmen and investors: I hope that the formation of the Government of National Unity will enhance the internal solidarity as agreed in the Doha accord

21:16 Kouchner: The issue of Shebaa Farms should be dealt with within the UN framework

20:42 Almustaqbal TV Hezbollah gunmen kidnapped Hani Baydoun in Bshamoun , a suburb south of the capital Beirut. No explanation given for the kidnapping . In a statement Hezbollah has denied kidnapping Baydoun.

20:16 Future News: Based on a document the Syrian Ambassador to the UN submitted to the Security Council, the UN will have sufficient grounds to consider that Israel has not completed its withdrawal from southern Lebanon and that the Shebaa Farms are Lebanese, thereby placing the land under UN control as per resolution 242.

20:09 Siniora received calls from the Foreign Ministers of Britain and the United Arab Emirates and he discussed with officials of the World Bank the need to ensure the success of the Vienna donor conference

20:03 "LBC": Syria has not provided the requested documents to the United Nations to prove that Shebaa Farms are Lebanese . The United Nations considers the farms Syrian. Syria is linking the fate of Shebaa Farms to the negotiations with Israel over the future of the Golan

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