President Michel Suleiman expressed optimism on Monday that the cabinet members will be able to resolve the dispute among each other soon.

“The rift between the cabinet members is on minor issues,” Suleiman told As Safir Newspaper.

The current government deadlock is likely to stretch indefinitely given that a mechanism to restore cabinet productivity, as Premier Najib Miqati had demanded, will probably take a while, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

Ministerial circles noted however that the ongoing tensions between Miqati and the Free Patriotic Movement may be eased through the intervention of the FPM’s ally Hizbullah.

The funeral procession for the head of the Democratic Renewal Movement, ex-MP Nassib Lahoud, was held at the St. George Cathedral in downtown Beirut in the presence of top officials, diplomats, dignitaries and family members.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, who on Saturday kicked off a five-day tour of Beirut parishes, presided over the memorial service.

Environment Minister Nazem al-Khoury, who is loyal to President Michel Suleiman, revealed on Friday that the head of state has launched mediation efforts to resolve the dispute between Premier Najib Miqati and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

Al-Khoury told An Nahar daily that Suleiman “is seeking to revive the cabinet sessions and the government’s work by either contacting the prime minister or the rest of the parties.”

President Michel Suleiman stressed Thursday on the “mechanism which was adopted in the administrative appointments,”

He asserted that “PM Najib Miqati agrees with him and is fully committed to this mechanism.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea criticized on Thursday the performance of the cabinet, calling on its members to resign and urging the formation of a technocrat government.

“Any member of this cabinet that respects himself should submit his resignation,” Geagea said during a press conference in Maarab.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Thursday that he is keen on safeguarding Lebanon and its constitution.

He said during a ceremony on the expansion of the Tripoli Port: “Lebanon will not become a victim of powers seeking to split the spoils.”

President Michel Suleiman said Wednesday that the ball of appointments of civil servants to positions in state institutions was in the court of the cabinet.

“The ball of appointments is in the court of ministers and I disagree with the justice minister on the head of the Higher Judicial Council,” Suleiman said on twitter.

President Michel Suleiman and Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, who are among the centrist forces in the government, have chided Energy Minister Jebran Bassil for accusations made by the Free Patriotic Movement of corruption and embezzlement.

During a heated cabinet session held at Baabda palace on Tuesday, Bassil reiterated his claims that technical, financial and administrative obstacles were preventing the implementation of his project aimed at resolving the electricity crisis in the country and hinted that Suleiman was obstructing the appointment of a new board of directors for the state-run power company, Electricite du Liban.

Premier Najib Miqati and Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is loyal to Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat, have rejected accusations that they were hindering the implementation of vital projects.

In remarks to As Safir daily, sources close to Miqati said: “It is absolutely rejected to accuse the cabinet of hindering projects.”