Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam stated on Tuesday that he is keen on preserving the “positive and optimistic” conditions that prevailed in Lebanon after his appointment to his position.

He said: “I do not support being hasty in forming a new government, but the process should not be slow either because the country needs a cabinet.”

Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour said Tuesday he was waiting for the complete file of deadly attacks on Lebanese territories from the Syrian side of the border to take the appropriate measures.

Mansour made the disclosure in a remark to al-Joumhouria newspaper when it asked him what step he was planning to take after he was tasked with filing a complaint with the Arab League to ask for its assistance in confronting the attacks.

President Michel Suleiman has tasked former minister Khalil Hrawi to launch a new round of talks with the leaderships of the major political parties in an attempt to reach consensus on a new vote law.

Hrawi told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) that he will seek to bring the converging viewpoints of the leaders closer on a hybrid proposal that combines the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems.

A decision by the National Struggle Front of MP Walid Jumblat to challenge the suspension of deadlines applicable under the 1960 electoral law has received the “tacit approval” of President Michel Suleiman and al-Mustaqbal bloc chief Fouad Saniora, An Nahar daily reported on Monday.

The Front's intention to challenge before the constitutional council parliament's endorsement of a draft-law that suspended the deadlines until May 19 was revealed by caretaker Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is a member of Jumblat's Progressive Socialist Party.

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has reportedly proposed to President Michel Suleiman a 14-member cabinet that was strongly criticized by Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat for being a “civil war plan.”

Al-Akhbar newspaper quoted sources as saying that Salam made the proposal during a meeting they held at Baabda palace last week. But when the president informed Jumblat about it, the PSP chief replied: “This is a civil war plan.”

President Michel Suleiman slammed Israel on Sunday for its continued threats against Lebanon, urging the international community to pressure it to end its intimidation.

In a statement carried by the state-run National News Agency, Suleiman said: “The Israeli enemy continues to threaten Lebanon through its overflights in a new and grave violation of (U.N. Security Council) resolution 1701.”

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday the need for national interests to be placed above all else in order to keep the country clear of foreign conflicts.

He said: “We must derive lessons from regional developments and realize the need for cooperation among all sides to keep country away from these crises.”

Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel issued a decree on Saturday suspending the deadline for submitting parliamentary elections nominations until May 19.

The decree added that the Interior Ministry will resume accepting nominations on May 20 and until May 25.

The March 8 forces on Friday voiced dismay after media reports said Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam intends to form a small, technocrat cabinet and after the names of its alleged members were leaked.

“Salam has not communicated with the March 8 forces since the end of consultations at al-Nejmeh Square,” NBN television reported.

President Michel Suleiman signed Friday a draft law suspending the deadline for submitting nominations for the parliamentary elections until May 19.

The draft law was referred to the president on Wednesday after it was approved by parliament.