the Saudi - Syrian summit to be successful and that is why they are setting obstacles for forming the cabinet

Signaling the backing of Aoun’s demands speaker Nabih Berri called on PM designate Saad Hariri to satisfy Aoun’s demands even if this will be at the expense of the March 14 ruling majority

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who arrived today in Beirut said the regional situation is "not good" and said a government should be formed urgently in Lebanon to confront existing challenges.

"It is very urgent for the government to be formed because the regional situation is not good" and the peace process is not moving forward, Kouchner said following talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace.

"I heard from President Michel Suleiman that the cabinet would be formed soon based on the 15-10-5 formula," he said.

Kouchner offered assistance in forming a cabinet but stressed that the Lebanese can't rely solely on France to form a government.

"It is not up to France to form your government and we have not come to give lessons, but we are concerned “ he said

"You cannot continue this way. You are promoting all the most dangerous trends in the region ... At stake are your security and the unity and freedom of Lebanon," he said.

Kouchner confirmed that there were internal as well as foreign reasons preventing cabinet formation.

Kouchner described the meeting between Saudi King Abdullah and Syrian President Bashar Assad earlier this month as "important." But said: "We can't expect immediate results."

"Have you ever seen a Lebanese government formed quickly? Of course not," Kouchner added.

Earlier today Kouchner held separate talks with his Lebanese counterpart Fawzi Salloukh and Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt.

Friday

11:20pm On the 26 th anniversary of the attack against the US Marines in Lebanon , president Obama said his administration looks forward to working with the new Lebanese government for the sake of security and prosperity of the Lebanese people and the region

9 :27pm PLO representative Zaki held a press conference in which he stressed the right of of the Palestinians to their homeland . He also said settlement of the Palestinians in Lebanon is impossible because of its special situation and its demographic makeup

9:14pm Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting the date of legislative elections to on January 24, 2010

8:44 pm US says it can wait a few days for Iran’s reply on nuclear deal

8:33pm Hariri met with former PM Mikati to discuss current developments


7 :25 pm Kouchner: Lebanese leaders show willingness to form cabinet soon

6:03pm `Iran fails to accept UN-drafted nuclear deal


3:46 pm Kouchner reiterates France’s support to Lebanon

2:57 Kouchner voices hope impasse will end soon

2:17 French FM Kouchner says meeting with outgoing PM Fouad Siniora was “encouraging”

1 :02 pm French FM Bernard Kouchner arrives at Grand Serail to meet with outgoing PM Fouad Siniora

12:21pm Jumblatt meets with Kouchner at the French embassy

12:12 Speaker Nabih Berri meets with French FM Bernard Kouchner in Ain al-Tineh

11:41 Kouchner : France wants to see a stable Lebanon capable of governing itself

10:59 President Michel Suleiman meets with French FM Bernard Kouchner in Baabda

10:37 Marouni says Aoun is obstructing cabinet formation

10:03 French FM Bernard Kouchner meets with Lebanese FM Fawzi Salloukh

08:51 Alloush says Future Movement refrains from commenting on FPM demands

08:51 VOL: Two blasts heard in Majdal Aanjar on Thursday night, believed to be hand grenades

Thursday

7:37pm Jumblatt : my meeting with Suleiman. It seems some internal and regional forces did not want the Saudi Syrian rapprochement to succeed and they may be aiming at the Taef accord

6:00 pm: Tehran strongly rejects reported claims by an Israeli daily that the Iranian and Israeli delegations held secret talks during a September meeting of the International Committee on Nuclear Non-Proliferation in Cairo

5:52pm "Voice of Lebanon": two people were killed an several others seriously injured in a terrible traffic accident on the highway connecting Hazmieh and Karantina near the low bridge and all were transferred Lebanese Canadian and Al Mashreq hospitals
was
5 :31pm the investigation in the case of Geagea vs Wahab was concluded

5:07 president Assad called for “the need to speed up the formation of a government of national unity, restore the situation in Lebanon to its natural state and to its natural role after years of turmoil and division”

4:40pm A delegation of Human Rights Association and the families of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons visited the headquarters of the European Commission to follow up on its promise on working to solve the case of Lebanese detainees in Syrian prisons