Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam thanked on Sunday all the Lebanese who congratulated him on his nomination and said he looked forward to everyone's cooperation to form his new government.

In a statement issued by his press office, Salam thanked all the Lebanese for their support since he was tasked with forming the cabinet earlier this month.

The deputy head of Hizbullah's executive council and a Hizbullah MP called on Sunday for understanding among the rival political parties to avoid a new crisis on the formation of the new cabinet which they said should represent political parties.

“Lebanon is based on understanding whether in the formation (of the government) or the electoral law,” Sheikh Nabil Qaouq, the council's deputy leader, said during a seminar organized by a cultural center in Nabatiyeh.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani said Sunday that the controversial elections for the 32-member Higher Islamic Council were legitimate and a decision by the Shura Council to cancel the polls was not binding, as the boycotters slammed the vote as "illegitimate."

In remarks after the elections kicked off, Qabbani said: “The polls are legitimate and we are not concerned with the opinion of the Shura Council.”

The National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat along with several other lawmakers are seeking to challenge parliament’s endorsement to suspend the deadlines set by the 1960 vote law.

The revelation was made by Caretaker Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is loyal to Jumblat, in an interview with An Nahar newspaper published Sunday.

A meeting held between Premier-designate Tammam Salam and a delegation from the Hizbullah-led March 8 coalition will be followed by more talks after they failed to strike a deal on the nature of the new cabinet over Salam's insistence to form a neutral government, sources said.

“We discussed with him our point of view on the need for a cabinet of political figures that represent all parties and Salam informed us that he prefers a government of neutral” figures, the sources of the delegation told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published Sunday.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday the need for national interests to be placed above all else in order to keep the country clear of foreign conflicts.

He said: “We must derive lessons from regional developments and realize the need for cooperation among all sides to keep country away from these crises.”

The elections of members of the Higher Islamic Council will take place on Sunday, said Dar al-Fatwa on Saturday.

It announced in a statement that the elections will take place at 10:00 a.m. in all centers of the authority throughout Lebanon.

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel issued a decree on Saturday suspending the deadline for submitting parliamentary elections nominations until May 19.

The decree added that the Interior Ministry will resume accepting nominations on May 20 and until May 25.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea renewed on Saturday the demand for the rise of a state capable of achieving stability, security, and justice for all in Lebanon.

He said: “We realize now more than ever that war does not benefit any side, which is why we seek the rise of a strong state capable of imposing its authority throughout its territories.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati hoped on Saturday that youths in Lebanon would learn from the experiences of their elders and “realize that no one in the country can eliminate the other.”

He said: “We hope that the youths would avoid being used as fuel for futile battles that only lead to more despair.”