Maronite Patriarch Beshara el-Rahi on Thursday criticized Lebanon’s leaders for failing to form a government, voicing calls to distance Lebanon from “your personal interests and the regional conflicts.”

Circles of Baabda Palace lashed back at the Center House on Thursday saying there were “no bats in the Palace,” and that the Presidency has always been eager to work “publicly, clearly and with transparency.”

Information “leaked from the Baabda Palace” prior to PM-designate Saad Hariri’s visit on Tuesday created a “negative atmosphere” prior to the meeting with President Michel Aoun, Center House sources said.

“The positive atmosphere that PM-designate Hariri spoke of followed a direct request from President Aoun, who urged him to make a statement about the presence of positivities that needed completion,” al-Jadeed TV quoted the sources as saying on Wednesday, following a second meeting between Aoun and Hariri.

Four people were arrested Wednesday on suspicion of torching a Christmas tree in northern Lebanon, the National News Agency said.

"Army intelligence agents arrested four people suspected of having torched a Christmas tree yesterday morning in the town of Seer al-Dinniyeh," NNA added.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced Wednesday that “clear complications” are still delaying the formation of the new government.

“I was hoping to have a government before the holidays but there are still clear complications,” Hariri told reporters after holding talks with President Michel Aoun in Baabda -- their second meeting in two days.

Lebanese Army chief, General Joseph Aoun, welcomed at his Yarze office on Wednesday, the Chief of Staff of the French Armies General François Lecointre leading a delegation, the National News Agency reported.

Head of the Lebanese Democratic Party on Wednesday expressed dismay at the chances that a new government could be formed of 18 ministerial seats instead of 20, which would grant the Druze community one seat instead of two.

“We heard yesterday there is a progress in the formation (of a government) which has become a necessary need for the Lebanese in these exceptional circumstances the country is passing through,” said Arslan in a tweet.

In Peru, you can't drive your car on Christmas. In Lebanon, you can go to a nightclub, but you can't dance. In South Africa, roadblocks instead of beach parties will mark this year's festive season.

Lebanon announced plans to resume contacts with Alvarez and Marsal consultancy firm to conduct forensic audit into the state’s accounts, after a bill passed in Parliament approving the lifting of banking secrecy.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri and President Michel Aoun held their 13th meeting on the government formation, after which the PM reflected “positive” atmospheres, vowing to form a government before Christmas, the Saudi Asharq el-Awsat reported on Wednesday.