Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati stressed that he is maintaining his consultations in order to end disputes regarding the formation of a new government, adding that he will not commit to a certain deadline or a specific number of ministers in the new Cabinet.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Sunday: "At the end of the day, the main concern is establishing a government that ensures the people's trust and we will announce it once it is ready."

The March 14 forces are set to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri during a ceremony on Monday during which pivotal speeches on various levels will be made, reported the daily An Nahar Sunday.

As Safir stated on Sunday that the commemoration will be an occasion for the March 14 camp to “set its work strategy for the next phase in Lebanon” based on whether it will participate in Cabinet or not.

A meeting between Premier-designate Najib Miqati and Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb on Thursday signaled the resumption of contacts between the billionaire businessman and the March 14 forces.

Miqati’s circles told An Nahar daily in remarks published Friday that the meeting was “positive” and the cabinet formation process was making progress.

Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem on Thursday noted that "abidance by the Constitution and the Taef Accord is the logical solution during this period."

He stressed that his party supports the implementation of the Taef Accord as well as national partnership.

A battle is raging over key portfolios in the new government -- most notably the interior, defense and justice ministries.

An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday quoted sources following up on the issue of Cabinet formation as saying that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati is seeking to create a one-sided, 24-strong government after the March 14 coalition announced it will not participate.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly on Tuesday discussed the recent political developments in the country in separate meetings with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel and caretaker Labor Minister Boutros Harb.

"Ambassador Connelly reiterated that the U.S. views the formation of a new Lebanese government as an exclusively Lebanese process that should remain free from outside interference," said a communiqué released by the U.S. Embassy following Connelly's talks with Geagea.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for "joining efforts so that Lebanon can continue to be a country that is adhered to its democratic political system in the face of pressures seeking to turn it into a totalitarian (country) controlled by (foreign) hegemony."

In a communiqué issued after its weekly meeting, the bloc condemned "the return to the rhetoric of weapons … rigged elections and stolen (parliamentary) representation," stressing the importance of "pressing forward towards the rise of the State."

Speaker Nabih Berri said Premier-designate Najib Miqati’s cabinet will see light this week but lamented that the March 14 forces refused to take part in the government.

“Unfortunately, it seems that some parties don’t want to participate in the national salvation cabinet. This has been announced by Phalange party leader Amin Gemayel,” Berri told Voice of Lebanon, Voice of Freedom and Dignity, radio station.

British Ambassador Frances Guy said she hoped for the formation of a national unity cabinet and hinted that the March 14 alliance was still the parliamentary majority despite the nomination of a Hizbullah-backed candidate to the premier’s post.

During a visit to As Safir daily’s office in the northern port city of Tripoli, Guy said she hoped for the formation of a “national cabinet” and stressed “nothing has changed on the ground because the results of the elections are still the same and haven’t changed.”

French Defense Minister Alain Juppe has stressed that Najib Miqati’s government should respect international resolutions on Lebanon, including the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Following talks with U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon in New York on Monday, Juppe said “a solution should be found to the current political crisis by preserving Lebanon’s unity and stability.”