President Michel Suleiman stressed on Monday the importance of preserving national unity and security to consolidate the democratic atmosphere that Lebanon enjoys.

A statement released by his press office said Suleiman told his visitors that the future cabinet should confront the latest challenges and solve social and administrative problems.

Israeli troops on Sunday carried out patrols along the Jewish state’s border with southern Lebanon and monitored Lebanese territories, pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat reported.

The soldiers also carried out maintenance work at several positions from where they monitor Lebanon, the newspaper said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat accused former Premier Fouad Saniora of hoping for the failure of Saad Hariri as prime minister so that he returns to the premiership.

In an interview with the Qatari al-Watan daily on Monday, Jumblat said: “If I was Sheikh Saad I would have participated in Najib Miqati’s government without hesitation.”

Premier-designate Najib Miqati held talks with Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel on Sunday night, sources close to the billionaire businessman told An Nahar daily.

Miqati had held a telephone conversation with Gemayel before the alleged meeting.

Syrian President Bashar Assad said he was pleased with the “smooth transition” between the two Lebanese governments, unveiling that any conflict would have evolved into civil war in Lebanon.

"What pleases me is that this transition between the two governments happened smoothly, because we were worried," Assad told The Wall Street Journal in a rare interview published Monday.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati might not form his government before the 6th anniversary of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri’s assassination, media reports said Monday.

Political circles following up the contacts on cabinet formation ruled out in remarks to An Nahar daily a final government line-up before mid February.

Europe's foreign ministers are expected on Monday to stress the importance of funding the international tribunal and express readiness to look into ways to support it financially.

An Nahar daily said the European External Action Service (EEAS) would call in its statement for the formation of a Lebanese government that preserves national unity.

Speaker Nabih Berri snapped back at former Premier Saad Hariri on Monday rejecting accusations that Syria and Iran have brought down his government.

Hariri said Saturday that "enormous" pressure from outside Lebanon was to blame for the collapse of his cabinet earlier this month.

More than 200 people rallied outside the Egyptian embassy in Beirut on Sunday, calling for the resignation of embattled President Hosni Mubarak as protests in Egypt raged for a sixth straight day.

"Mubarak is an Israeli puppet," and "Gamal, tell your father that the Egyptian people hate him," protesters chanted during the student-led demonstration in Beirut.

The first Middle East Airlines plane carrying 170 Lebanese nationals who were evacuated from Egypt arrived in Beirut Sunday afternoon, state-run National News Agency reported.

It said MEA planned to make two more trips to Cairo tonight to bring home more Lebanese nationals wanting to leave Egypt.