Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has reportedly called for making promises on the Shebaa farms and stressed that disarming Hizbullah was the key to toppling former President Emile Lahoud.

In a WikiLeaks cable published by al-Akhbar daily, Geagea said during a meeting with U.S. diplomats on August 12, 2006 that “Speaker Nabih Berri who is still controlled” by Hizbullah will not be able to support a move to topple Lahoud.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati has said contacts on the formation of the government are making progress and stressed all problems could be solved.

In remarks to As Safir newspaper published Tuesday, Miqati said: “The channels of contact are open in all directions and are making progress.”

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on the importance of speeding up the formation of the Lebanese cabinet, denying that Syria rejected efforts to form the new government.

In his remarks to As Safir daily published on Tuesday, Berri said that accusations about the lack of a Syrian green light on the cabinet are not true.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has stressed that there were no regional obstacles to the formation of the cabinet, saying his meeting with Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun on Monday night came as part of the need to unify the vision of the March 8 camp.

“The meeting was excellent,” Jumblat said in remarks published by An Nahar daily on Tuesday. “It comes as part of necessary steps to unify the vision within the single team.”

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.”