The ministerial committee tasked with drafting the Policy Statement of the new government on Wednesday pursued its discussions and agreed on a host of clauses pertaining to the economic, financial and developmental policies.

The committee, however, did not tackle the controversial clause on the U.N.-backed Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel on Tuesday denied that the meetings held recently by the March 14 forces in France were aimed at “drawing up a plan for the future,” noting that “there’s no need to agree on a plan, as coordination with former premier Saad Hariri has not stopped.”

In an interview with France 24 television, Gemayel clarified that the meeting he held in Paris with Hariri was aimed at consulting with the ex-PM on “how to deal with a government controlled by Hizbullah.”

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Tuesday voiced his surprise over recent remarks by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, stressing that “it is unacceptable to cross the limits of courtesy and respect in our political discourse.”

“It is surprising that such remarks were voiced by a responsible man such as General Aoun,” Miqati told reporters after the second meeting of the committee tasked with drafting the Policy Statement of the new government.

Speaker Nabih Berri urged the new cabinet to speed up the drafting of the policy statement by the end of the month to compensate the government formation delay, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.

“PM (Najib) Miqati’s cabinet has the chance to accomplish achievements in different sectors,” he said.

Al-Mustaqbal newspaper, mouthpiece of Saad Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal movement, reported on Thursday that the commemorative photograph of the new cabinet was aimed at “saluting” the “Black Shirts,” in reference to Hizbullah.

The dark color worn by the ministers was “an obvious violation of the protocol of wearing white suits” during official occasions in the summer.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Wednesday described the new government as a “broad national coalition,” stressing that “it was not imposed by outside forces as some have claimed” and that it is not “one-sided.”

Following talks with Prime Minister Najib Miqati in Beirut’s Verdun district, Jumblat added: “The atmospheres are excellent despite the delay in forming the cabinet … Each of us has made sacrifices, each in his own way.”

The final hours before announcing the long-awaited cabinet line-up witnessed intense contacts and a surprise meeting at the Baabda Palace between President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

After 30 minutes, Speaker Nabih Berri joined the meeting after he was invited “urgently and without previous notice,” Al-Manar television reported.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati held talks Friday afternoon with MP Ali Hassan Khalil, Speaker Nabih Berri’s aide, and Hussein Khalil, Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s aide, Al-Manar television reported.

For its part, MTV reported that an agreement has not yet been reached over the sixth Maronite candidate for the new cabinet, noting that discussions were still ongoing concerning several portfolios.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati held a meeting Wednesday evening with caretaker Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil, Speaker Nabih Berri’s political aide MP Ali Hassan Khalil and Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s Political Assistant Hussein Khalil, LBC television reported.

Earlier Wednesday, a meeting was held at the parliament between Miqati, Speaker Berri, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun and Marada Movement leader MP Suleiman Franjieh.

U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon on Friday condemned a bomb attack near the Lebanese southern city of Sidon that seriously injured two Italian peacekeepers, pledging to "bring the perpetrators to justice."

"I condemn the attack on the U.N. peacekeepers which happened today in Lebanon," Ban said in a statement. "It is all the more deplorable because today is the International Day of the United Nations Peacekeepers."