during a press conference.
"I will meet tomorrow with the president to brief him on the outcome of today’s discussions. After the meeting with the president, we will start serious discussions to form the cabinet.” He added
Hariri wants to see all the Lebanese united in this cabinet .
“We need to form a cabinet in which all parties will be represented, and in which all parties will cooperate each other,” he said. “We should try to get rid of the divisions that hurt the unity in Lebanon.”
Challenges and opportunities
“We all agreed on the dangers that face Lebanon, among which are Israel, the economic threats and the global economical crisis,” he added. “We have also agreed that there are economic opportunities, and that we should grab a political opportunity to open a new page to form a national unity cabinet.”
Hariri stressed the need to launch a political dialogue to determine what citizens really want from their government, saying, “Citizens want job opportunities, security, economy, no security breaches or Israeli threats. They want solutions to the economic problems. The people want stability, security, good economy, and the security forces to control stability.”
“We are building trust, which was lost in the past,” he said.
The question is : Will the opposition respond positively to Hariri's uniting effort ?
Unfortunately the answer may not be in Lebanon.
Let's hope the regional reconciliations we are all hearing about will translate into the type of unity cabinet that Hariri has in mind
Tuesday
11:40 pm President Barack Obama on Tuesday lauded the pullout of US forces from towns and cities in Iraq as an important step toward a full US troop withdrawal by 2012, but warned of "difficult days" ahead.
11:33 pm Seven people, at least five of them high-school students, were shot Tuesday at a bus stop in Detroit, Michigan, officials said
11;30 pm US Comedian Al Franken officially won the Minnesota US Senate seat Tuesday, as the state's Supreme Court ordered that he be certified as the winner of last year's election and incumbent Republican Norm Coleman conceded.
8:22pm Saudi Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja left Beirut for Jedda.
8:19pmGeneral Petraeus left Beirut for Ankara aboard a military plane, after visiting with army chief general Kahwaji
08:17pm FPM's Alan Aoun told OTV : we are dealing positively with regards to a balanced government in which there is no majority and minority
O8:15pm Abi Ramya told New TV: we have requested 7 ministerial posts from Hariri and he asked is to continue to preserve the positive atmosphere and we expect to reach a settlement after some give and take from both sides
08:14pm MP Fatfat told New TV: I expect the formation of the cabinet will take longer than what is being predicted . Despite that fact that Hariri is facing many difficulties , he won't give up, because he is solid and determined to succeed
08:05pm Mitri told MTV: the continued attacks against Gad el Maleh sounds like censorship on cultural issues and this is damaging to the cultural life in Lebanon and will not gain us any friends in our struggle against Israel
08:03pm Future TV: A summit is taking place in Sharm el Sheikh between president Mubarak and Saudi king Abdullah . Other leaders may be asked to join later to complete the pan Arab reconciliation effort
07:50 pm A deadly car bomb in northern Iraq shattered the mood of celebration this afternoon just hours after makeshift bands, dancing teenagers and crowds waving Iraqi flags had marked the withdrawal of American troops from the nation's cities.
07:30pm Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri meets with Defense Minister Elias Murr to discuss security, current politics
07:20pm Speaker Berri is meeting army chief general Kahwaji
07:11pm A huge fire erupted in Jezzine that destroyed about 60 acres of fruit trees
6:05pm Hariri after talks with Suleiman: I briefed the president on the position of each parliamentary bloc regarding the new government. They were positive. We will continue in this positive climate to reach a formula capable of facing the challenges.
5:30pm Petraeus said he congratulated Defense Minister Michel Murr on the outcome of the June 7 polls and on the peaceful climate that accompanied these elections.
5:00pm Hariri arrived at Baabda Palace to brief Suleiman on outcome of parliamentary consultations.
03:40 pm TMZ: Michael Jackson signed a will in 2002 providing for his children and his mom, but leaving nothing to daddy Joe -- this according to the Wall Street Journal.
03:39 pm Human watch organization: Missile-firing Israeli drones unlawfully killed at least 29 Palestinian civilians during the Gaza Strip war.
03:20pm Reuters - Faults were detected in France in 2007 on the Yemenia A310-300 plane that crashed near Comoros on Tuesday and the airline was under scrutiny, French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said
03:15pm General Petraeus after his meeting with Hariri: "I congratulate the Lebanese people on the successful completion of the parliamentary elections, which allowed the Lebanese to exercise their right to vote"
03:10 pm The Lebanese internal security will receive tomorrow 120 pieces of Traffic Equipment as a US donation in the presence of minister Baroud and US ambassador Sison
03:00 Steve Jobs has officially returned to Apple. The CEO of the Cupertino Crew is reportedly back at work, although his hours and the number of days he spends in the office are still unclear.
02:50 pm Caretaking FPM Minister Mario Aoun told MTV:" If things continue on the same lines of understanding, cooperation and openness I will not rule out that the government could be formed within 3 weeks to 1 month
02:45pm "New TV ": funeral procession of Zaina El Miri in Tareeq al Jadeedah area amidst heavy security and tense atmosphere. Her relatives announced that they will refuse to receive any of the official figures that will come to offer condolences. The 30 year old woman was killed by a stray bullet during clashes between Amal and Mustaqbal supporters in Aisha Bakkar
02 : 40 General Motors Corp. is poised to follow rival Chrysler's path and win approval to sell most of its assets at a hearing set to start today, putting President Barack Obama’s administration almost a month ahead of schedule in its plan to reshape the U.S. auto industry.
02:30: Taliban militants in a northwestern region have scrapped a peace deal with the Pakistani government and vowed to launch attacks, threatening to open a new front against the army already fighting in two areas.
02:25pm The ministry of communications transferred to the Lebanese treasury $85 million and 60 billion LL
02:15pm Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad : We wish prime minster designate Saad Hariri the best of luchk in forming a national unity government in which all will be able to participate
02:11 Saudi-Egyptian summit begins in Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt
02:10 pm Update : At least 15 people were killed and 50 injured overnight in Italy when a freight train hauling liquefied petroleum gas derailed and exploded as it passed their homes, officials said on Tuesday.
02:06pm A coordinating security meeting took place between Hezbollah and the Progressive Socialist Party in the Dhahiya during which their discussed the development of their field relations and steps to strengthen the civil peace
02:05pm "MTV:" Hariri will not discuss with President Suleiman a specific formula, but will reveal all the proposed formulas in addition to the long list of demands by the parliamentary blocs
01:48pm President Suleiman expressed his concern that the Netanyahu's policies are aimed at aborting the peace process , rejecting the resettlement of the Palestinians and robbing them of their right to return to their homeland
01:30 pm : Bernard Madoff, who confessed to running a Ponzi scheme of more than $50 billion, was sentenced Monday to spend 150 years in prison - a virtual life sentence - after his scheme collapsed amid the financial crisis.
People who invested with Madoff were greedy and happy to accept high returns without probing too much in the way these were achieved, Hugh Hendry, chief investment officer at hedge fund Eclectica, told CNBC Tuesday
1:25pm AP: Police and soldiers clashed with thousands of protesters outside Honduras' national palace Monday, leaving dozens of people injured, as world leaders from Barack Obama to Hugo Chavez demanded the return of a president ousted in a military coup.
1:15pm Petraeus is meeting with PM-designate Saad Hariri.
01:10 pm three bodies of the crashed Yemeni aircraft were found amidst heavy winds and severe weather conditions
1:05 pm A hospital official said on Tuesday that rescuers found a child survivor of the Yemen Airways aircraft , which crashed off the coast of the Indian Ocean archipelago of Comoros early Tuesday morning.
1:00pm MP Mohammed Qabbani after meeting Mufti Mohammed Rashid Qabbani: We asked for a meeting chaired by the mufti and attended by religious authorities in order to have Beirut “a safe city” for all.
12:45pm MP Nadim Gemayel: The slogan of “Lebanon First” does not harm our Arab neighbors. We think that Lebanon and Arabism do not contradict each other. The slogan is a sign that Lebanon’s interest comes before any foreign interest.
12:12pm The licenses for carrying arms were reactivated and their validity was extended till July 31
12:01pm Baghdad's oil ministry said BP and CNPC won the rights to work in the huge Rumaila oil field, which is in the south of the country and has known reserves of 17.7 billion barrels. It is the largest of six fields on offer to foreign and large state-owned firms invited to invest in Iraq's energy sector.
11:59 Judge Antoine Dhaher was appointed to replace Judge Joseph Qazzi in the military court
11:55 Houri Told OTV; The general atmosphere of the parliamentary consultations was positive but the serious discussions will start today
11:54 Al Jazeera : One of the survivors of the Yemeni aircraft that crashed in the Indian ocean was found
11:54 Gen. David Petraeus is meeting with caretaking PM Fouad Siniora at his home in Beirut's Bliss neighborhood.
11;30 Conoco Phillips -led consortium was the sole bidder on Tuesday for Iraq's 2.3 billion barrel Bai Hassan oilfield in northern Kirkuk province, the Oil Ministry said.
11:00 An Nahar : Saudi Information Minister Abdul Aziz Khoja arrived in Beirut last night as Syria awaits Saudi Response on a number of questions and on PM-designate Saad Hariri's views with regards to future Lebanon-Syria relations.
11:00am Gen. David Petraeus, the head of the U.S. military’s Central Command, met with President Michel Suleiman. U.S. ambassador Michele Sison attended the talks.
10:55 AP Italy : Two cars filled with liquefied natural gas exploded when a freight train derailed in the middle of a small Italian town, setting off an inferno that killed at least six people and injured 50 others, officials said Tuesday.
10:50 BBC: Iraq has begun selling contracts to run six oil fields and two gas fields in a televised auction, which is its first big tender since the invasion of 2003.
10:48 Patriarch Sfeir: We are living tough times and things are not as they should be . We should pay special attention to the file of the displaced so that they could return to their country and their own land
10:46 Mario Aoun told New TV: We insist on 7 ministerial posts and we want real participation in the government
10:46 The ministry of health announced the findings of four new cases of swine flu in Lebanon, bringing the country's total to 43.
10:35 Efram told LBC: I urge the president not to sign any decree for forming a government in which the minorities are not represented , and I would like to hear Christian voices that call for representation of the minorities in the cabinet
10:25 Qubaisy told Future TV: The meeting with minister Murr today will focus on the security situation and the lifting of political cover from all suspects and to stress that the security in Beirut is a red line
10:15 MP Hadi Hobeish told LBC: I advise Hariri not to accept a cabinet in which there is veto power. The Aisha Bakkar clashes will create a counter reaction and won’t give troublemakers what they are after.
10:12 Lebanese Security forces is warning the Lebanese citizens and the tourists not to fall victims to fraud specially because of the presence of counterfeit dollars and advised the citizens to exchange their funds only at banks and official currency changers
09:22 al-Hayat: U.N. Special Envoy Terje Roed-Larsen expressed optimism at recent developments in Lebanon and lauded Syria for providing a positive atmosphere during the Lebanese parliamentary elections last month
09:20 Reuters - Iraq takes a major step toward reasserting its sovereignty on Tuesday when US combat troops hand urban areas over to its police and soldiers
09:10 AP Singapore - Oil prices jumped above $73 a barrel Tuesday in Asia as a weakening US dollar and attacks on oil installations in Nigeria helped push prices to eight-month highs.
09:05 Yemen Airlines made the following announcement : "Yemenia regrets to announce the crash of Yemenia flight No. IY626 from Sana'a to Moroni with 142 passengers and 11 crew onboard," the carrier said in a statement on its Web site without giving further details.
8:32 MP Hani Qobaisi told VOL: I am optimistic that the cabinet would be formed soon after we saw a positive atmosphere during the consultations. The opposition is awaiting Hariri’s proposal to form a cabinet and we will later adopt a stance.
8:30 MP Mohammed al-Hajjar told VOL: President Suleiman should get a share in cabinet since he is playing the role of arbiter. Cooperation should be held based on the Taef accord.
08:10 Yemen Airways passenger plane A310-300 crashes in the Indian Ocean with 153 people on board , as it tried to land in bad weather on the Indian Ocean archipelago of Comoros
7:35 MP Akram Shehayyeb told VOL: No to one third or two thirds. President Suleiman is the guarantee. Everyone needs a national unity cabinet and understanding.
7:30 MP Alain Aoun told VOL: The solution would be found quickly if the result of consultations leads to a national unity cabinet. We are waiting Hariri’s proposal and we will then adopt a stance.
Monday
09:40pm Saudi Arabia welcomed the election of Nabih Berri as speaker of the Lebanese Parliament and Saad Hariri as prime minister and said the moves would strengthen the country's security and stability.
09:36pm Imad al-Hout: Jamaa Islamiya should be represented by at least one minister
08:55pm Hariri: “No formula for the cabinet has been crystallized yet,” but “all the blocs have shown openness and cooperation.”
07:58pm Iran's electoral watchdog (Guardians Council) confirmed the contested results of this month's presidential election after a partial recount which was boycotted by the opposition. The Guardians Council was accused by the opposition of siding with Ahmadinejad
07:23pm Al-Arabiya TV: Clashes erupt between demonstrators and security forces in Wali al-Aser square in Tehran.
6:50pm Imad al-Hout on behalf of Jamaa Islamiya: We support a national unity government and we hope for the Jamaa to have one minister in the cabinet.
6:32 Hariri is meeting with Jamaa Islamiya bloc.
6:30pm MP Hagop Pakradounian said the Armenian bloc will participate in a government of national unity and demanded two ministeries.
6:17pm Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin telegraphed Saad Hariri congratulating him on his designation for the premiership and voicing hope for future collaboration.
