later changed his mind and stipulated that his vote is subject to the condition that Hariri should form a national unity government .
Berri’s change of heart created tension between him and Hariri
Hariri stressed on Monday that he has the right to adopt a "different" negotiations approach
"I have kept my hand extended but they (the opposition) have always rejected our open approach," Hariri said during an iftar at his residence in Qoreitem. "In face of such rigid stance, it then becomes my constitutional right to adopt a different strategy."
He said he would reveal such a strategy if he is reappointed as PM-designate. "We would then see how much the other parties would cooperate on cabinet formation."
"No one tells me what to do as long as I am working within my constitutional authorities that allow me to form the cabinet in cooperation with the president," he stressed.
Hariri said that his alliance had agreed to include Hezbollah in the cabinet, despite Israeli threats and he was ready to make sacrifices "in order to preserve Lebanon's interests."
The Development and Liberation bloc headed by Berri said following their yesterday’s meeting that its members awaited a declaration by Hariri regarding his commitment to the 15-10-5 cabinet formula before nominating him again as premier.
Regardless whether Berri ‘s bloc will nominate him or not Hariri is expected to get at least 73 votes out of 128 ( the votes of the 71 majority and the votes of the 2 opposition MPs from the Tashnag party .
MP Walid Jumblatt has been trying to reconcile Berri with Hariri during the past couple of days. For this reason Minister Ghazi Aridi was shuffling between Berri’s residence and Hariri’s residence until late Monday, according to media reports
Hariri’s supporters are mad at Berri for imposing conditions on their leader . De Freije told "future news": “When Berri was elected as a speaker he refused the imposition of any conditions so why he is now imposing conditions on Hariri ?”
Tuesday
6:10pm MP Saad Hariri met with British MP Newmark and a delegation from Arslan's Lebanese Democratic Party.
5:00 pm Reuters: Several mortars or rockets were fired at Baghdad's fortified Green Zone government district on Tuesday shortly after U.S. Vice President Joe Biden flew in to keep pressure on Iraq's leaders to make political compromises.
4:50 pm Asia one: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday brushed off US threats of possible sanctions on Iran's petrol imports, saying Tehran's oil industry could overcome any such challenge.
4:45 pm AFP: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said Tuesday that sanctions might be needed to keep Iran's nuclear program in check but described this as "not very effective" and urged continued negotiation instead
.
4:25pm 'Zahle in the Heart' bloc visited President Suleiman without its leader MP Fattoush and announced their support for Hariri's re-nomination.
4:20pm MP Sami Gemayel named Hariri as PM-designate.
4:12pm The Democratic Gathering bloc re-named Hariri as PM-designate.
3:55pm The Lebanese Forces re-named Hariri as PM-designate.
3:40pm Three wounded in a dispute in Ramel el-Aali in Ouzai area that developed into a gunfight.
3:30pm MP Nicolas Fattoush re-named as PM-designate.
3:20pm MP Michel Murr renamed Hariri as PM-designate.
2;30 pm Minister Bahia Hariri is meeting with the directors of Beirut and Mount Lebanon public schools to discuss the measures that should be taken with regards to the swine flu
2:19pm Gracciano : we renew our full commitment to the Lebanese governmnt and compliance with UNSCR 1701 by all parties and security in the south
2:13pm Hezbollah's MP Hajj Hassan: the country needs calm dialogue and not escalation and without the 15-10-5 formula there will not be true partnership
1:54 pm MTV: Syrian Social Nationalist Party bloc MP Marwan Fares said that he expects Future Movement leader MP Saad Hariri “to fail” in forming the new cabinet, adding that Syria would have “nothing to do with it, since it does not interfere in Lebanon’s political affairs.
1 :38pm the consultations at Baabda palace were postponed to 3 pm today because of a lunch meeting between Aoun , Suleiman and Gebran Bassil
1 :35pm Sison's visit to Baabda was to coordinate tomorrow's meeting between George Mitchell and the president
1 :30pm Suleiman is currently meeting with The Democratic Gathering bloc headed by MP Walid Jumblatt
1;30 pm Hezbollah's ( loyalty to the resistance) bloc does not nominate anyone for PM- designate
1 :15pm Suleiman is meeting with Hezbollah's ( loyalty to the resistance) bloc headed by MP Mohammad Raad
1:11 pm General Aoun said at the end of the consultations that he did not name Hariri as PM designate
1: 10pm Al Manar : The US ambassador has arrived at Baabda palace in a surprise visit .
1 :02 pm The consultations continue and Suleiman is currently meeting with change and reform bloc headed by MP Aoun
1 :01 pm MP Hubeish said on behalf Future ( al Mustaqbal) parliamentary bloc: we nominated Hariri as PM designate
12:48 President Suleiman is currently meeting the Future ( al Mustaqbal) parliamentary bloc headed by MP Saad Hariri
12:50pm Contrary to what OTV has reported earlier , the Development and Liberation bloc headed by Berri did not name Hariri as PM designate . Following the consultations with Suleiman MP Hassan Khalil made a statement in which he confirmed that their bloc did not name anyone , but promised to cooperate with Hariri if he is nominated and if he plans to form a cabinet based on the 15-10-5 formula
12:30 pm OTV : The Development and Liberation bloc headed by Berri will name Hariri as PM designate following positive assurances received from president Suleiman . Hariri is now expected to receive 86 votes
12;20pm The Development and Liberation bloc headed by Berri is currently meeting with president Suleiman
12:20pm Al Manar : Berri’s bloc will not nominate anyone if Hariri will not issue a clear commitment regarding the new government formula
12;15pm : Makari : I have nominated Hariri as the PM designate hoping the government will be formed soon and without any obstructions
12:07pm Marouni told OTV : I am in the heart of Zahli in the Heart bloc. We either agree to attend altogether the consultations or we should agree on another form
12:04pm Suleiman is meeting deputy Speaker Makari
12;03 pm As Iran agrees to hold the much-anticipated negotiations with the West on October 1, the United States says it will send its third-ranking diplomat William Burns to the talks.
12;00pm US military officials say American special forces staged an attack in southern Somalia Monday and killed a Kenyan-born terrorist suspect wanted by the FBI
11:58 Mikati : I have nominated Hariri as the PM designate hoping the government will be formed soon
11:48 NYT: Norwegian voters have returned their Labor-dominated government to office, narrowly endorsing Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's pursuit of expanded public services and rejecting angry demands by some of his opponents
11:45 Suleiman is currently meeting with Miqati after meeting with Aoun who left without making any statement
11:42 The Iraqi journalist Muntazar el Zubaidi who threw his shoes at former president Bush was released from jail today
11:37 Alloush : If Aoun will not make concessions , then the prospects of government formation will be difficult
11:31 Berri left baabda palace without making any statement
11:29 MTV : preliminary indications reveal that Hariri will get 73 votes as PM designate
11:29 FPM leader MP Michel Aoun arrives in Baabda for parliamentary consultations
11:25 Former PM Miqati arrives at Baabda palace
11:10 Siniora’s appointment for consultations was postponed till tomorrow because he is out of the country
11:00 Speaker Nabih Berri arrived at Baabda Presidential Palace at start of parliamentary consultations .
10:48 Israeli mock air strikes over Nabatiyah , Iqlim and Marjayoun
10:45 a loud explosion was heard near Dahr al-Baydar caused by the detonation of old munitions by the army
10:32 Majority sources told al Anbaa": the circumstances of the birth of the formula 15 +10 +5 are no longer valid and the idea of the Government of technocrats is no longer an option for the majority
10:25 President Suleiman will resume parliamentary consultations at 11 am in Baabda and will start with a meeting with Berri
10:20 Quraytem circles: Hariri’s resignation was not a retreat but simply a leap forward towards the formation of a cabinet
10:18 De Freije told "future news": when Berri was elected as a speaker he refused the imposition of any conditions so why he is now imposing conditions on Hariri ?
09:53 Abu Jamra told al Rai: the country's interest requires that Hariri should include all the parties in the cabinet
09:16 38 wanted people were arrested for committing criminal acts
09:10 majority sources told al Hayat : Hariri did not confirm his continued commitment to the formula 15 +10 +5, but did not say he was also abandoning it
09:05 Saqr: the difference between Fattoush, Maroni is the result of differences in views within the bloc with regards to representation in the government
09:03 al Liwaa: Sarkozy decided to send a senior aid to Beirut before the end of the month
08:58 STL registrar : The Lebanese has no choice but to cooperate with the special Tribunal because of the pledges and commitments made by the Lebanese state itself
08:37 al Hayat: a telephone conversation took place between Suleiman and Assad that dealt with regional developments and bilateral relations and the internal Lebanese situation
8:32 MP Robert Ghanem told VOL: we want all parties to Lebanonize the cabinet formation process more than before. Priority lies in clearing the situation again and coming up with a government which abides by the constitution.
8:30 MP Ahmed Fatfat told VOL: We do not reject a national unity government on condition that the other party makes concessions. Renaming Hariri as PM-Designate does not mean the birth of a government.
