President Michel Suleiman has reportedly ruled out the formation of the cabinet anytime soon, saying that Lebanon has missed investment opportunities over the deadlock.

“Lebanon is missing big economic and investment opportunities over the continued impasse in the formation of the government, particularly at a time of security shakeups in Arab countries,” Suleiman’s visitors quoted him as saying.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday held talks with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun at the latter's residence in the North Metn neighborhood of Rabiyeh.

Aoun hosted dinner for Jumblat and the accompanying delegation which consisted of caretaker ministers Ghazi Aridi and Wael Abu Faour. Acting Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil was also present at the talks.

Some 30 women gathered in Beirut on Monday, Mother's Day, demanding information on the fate of their children and loved ones who went missing during the country's civil war and who are presumably being held in Syria.

"I just want to see my son once more before I die," cried Hana, 60, whose son Mustafa disappeared in 1988 at the age of 16.

A dispute in the Beirut southern suburb of Ghobeiri between moneychangers from the Dbouq, Rahhal and Miqdad families erupted into gunfire on Monday.

Heavy machinegun fire was heard in the area around 4:00 p.m., prompting the army to intervene and contain the situation after cordoning off the area and closing the Beirut airport-Ghobeiri highway.

After Special Tribunal for Lebanon Prosecutor Daniel Bellemare filed on March 11 an amended draft indictment for confirmation by STL Pre-Trial Judge Daniel Fransen, the assessment of the submitted charges will now take “months, not weeks” as previously announced, STL Chief of Public Affairs Crispin Thorold has said.

In an interview with Lebanese daily Sada al-Balad to be published Tuesday, Thorold noted that Fransen and his small team were reviewing as quickly as possible the amended indictment and tens of thousands of pages of supporting material, while being keen on integrity and justice.

Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammed Safadi criticized on Monday those who accused him of “betrayal” after Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s election, warning that they should not consider his silence as a sign of weakness.

He said: “We are the most eager to adopt a position that would unite Lebanon’s Sunnis. We are the most eager to uncover the truth behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and we will confront anyone who tarnishes his image.”

The Phalange Party politburo stated on Monday that it is time that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati “get his act together” and form a new government as soon as possible.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting that since the premier had asserted that he is not being subject to any pressure, he should be able to form a new government soon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Monday the Lebanese army’s discovery of the Israeli spy system at Shamaa last week.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated Al-Anbaa magazine: “The discovery is new evidence that Lebanon is greatly exposed on the political and security levels.”

Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Moussawi accused the March 14 camp of seeking to thwart Prime Minister-designate from forming a new government, stressing that the Resistance is keen on establishing a strong and just state.

He said: “The March 14 forces’ current campaign is aimed at removing Miqati from his position, which is why they are inciting strife while world powers, headed by the U.S., are exerting direct pressure to prevent the formation of the government.”

MP Marwan Hamadeh denied on Monday that he had made remarks against Hizbullah during the 2006 war, stressing that he was keen at that period to consolidate Lebanese sovereignty on all territories.

His remarks were carried by al-Akhbar newspaper in alleged WikiLeaks cables.