United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged on Friday all sides in Lebanon to unite behind President Michel Suleiman in light of the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

He called on all Lebanese factions to unite and cooperate with state institutions in order to maintain stability and respect the Baabda Declaration.

European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton voiced concern Saturday over the "deteriorating situation" in Lebanon following the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati the previous day.

A statement issued by her office said Ashton "expresses concern at the deteriorating situation in Lebanon" after Miqati's decision to step down.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani stressed on Saturday that Lebanon's security is linked to that of the northern city of Tripoli and the North.

He urged in a statement “the residents of the North to cooperate with each other in order to avoid steering Lebanon towards instability.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stated on Saturday that Prime Minister Najib Miqati's resignation “surprised us and yet didn't,” while accusing President Michel Suleiman of harming the rights of Christians.

He told al-Mada radio: “Miqati resigned for silly reasons.”

President Michel Suleiman accepted on Saturday the resignation of the government.

He has since tasked it was assuming a caretaking role until a new government is formed.

Three people were killed and four others were wounded on Saturday as sniper activity and clashes renewed between the rival neighborhoods of Bab al-Tabbaneh and Jabal Mohsen in the northern city of Tripoli.

"The army is readying to enter Jabal Mohsen and declare that the neighborhood is under its authority ahead of the withdrawal of all fighters from the streets," state-run National News Agency reported.

Consultations to form a new government are expected to kick off next week in light of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's resignation on Friday, reported various media outlets Saturday.

The premier told the daily: “I decided to resign because I believe it is the best way to protect Lebanon.”

Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour is expected to travel to Qatar on Saturday to take part in the Arab foreign ministers meeting ahead of an Arab League summit scheduled for next week, reported al-Liwaa newspaper Saturday.

President Michel Suleiman is set to attend the Arab League summit that is scheduled to convene on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stated on Friday that “it has become urgent” to hold national dialogue sessions following the cabinet's resignation, noting that he “is betting on the important role President Michel Suleiman can play in preserving stability in the country.”

"Suleiman plays an important role in preventing vacuum,” Gemayel said in phone call with LBCI television after Prime Minister Najib Miqati had announced the cabinet's resignation.

Former premier Fouad Saniora on Friday announced that the government's resignation “opens the door to returning to dialogue,” voicing concerns over the likely postponement of parliamentary elections.

“We believe that this government should have resigned a long time ago and it has opened a new window for correcting its faulty performance and it has also opened the door to dialogue,” Saniora said in a phone interview with Al-Arabiya.