Premier Najib Miqati’s sources have denied a TV report that the PM has agreed to amend the protocol of cooperation signed between the Lebanese government and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

OTV reported Sunday that Miqati has held several telephone conversations with Speaker Nabih Berri and has agreed “in principle” to introduce changes to the protocol.

A series of controversial issues are awaiting a solution by the cabinet but the death of the Saudi Crown Prince forced a postponement of a session on Tuesday, a move that came as a safe exit out for the bickering government ministers.

Informed sources told An Nahar daily on Monday that the “cracks” worsened during the last government session over the dispute between the ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and those representing Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat.

The former chief of the General Security Department, Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed, described on Thursday Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat as a “sectarian dictator” who would have let the Lebanese suffer under his rule if he had controlled the country.

Jumblat “is a small sectarian dictator in Lebanon” who has terrorized his Druze and non-Druze foes, has been involved in corruption and has ordered massacres and assassinations, Sayyed said in a statement.

The March 14 forces are coordinating their stances ahead of a possible announcement by Premier Najib Miqati that his government would refuse to fund the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, opposition leadership sources said.

The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat that former Premier Saad Hariri, who is currently aboard, is holding large-scale consultations in case Miqati announces that his negotiations with the March 8 forces on the STL funding have reached a dead-end.

Ministers loyal to Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat clashed during a cabinet session on Wednesday in what was seen as an attempt by the representatives of the FPM to exact revenge on the PSP ministers for scrutinizing Energy Minister Jebran Bassil’s electricity project.

During a lengthy session held at the Grand Serail, Bassil asked Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi, who is loyal to Jumblat, to unveil all projects carried out by his ministry, ministerial sources told An Nahar daily on Thursday.

Energy Minister Jebran Bassil denied on Tuesday Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat’s recent remarks that proposals by certain Arab states to fund the Energy Ministry’s electricity plan have been rejected.

He said during cabinet session: “These remarks are untrue.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun slammed on Tuesday Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s statements, saying that they are a concession of Lebanon’s sovereignty.

He said after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting: “His statements expose Lebanon to dangers and I proudly say that I will not agree to the funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.”

The cabinet launches on Tuesday what would most probably be protracted discussions on the draft state budget which includes the controversial funding of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

The first government session on the 2012 budget will be held at Baabda palace on Tuesday afternoon. Ministerial sources told An Nahar daily that discussions will start with an overview of the budget that is drafted by Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi.

Progressive Socialist Party Leader MP Walid Jumblat asked if it was true that Arab states made proposals to the Energy Ministry for financing the electricity plan but were rejected.

In his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine, Jumblat hoped that "political differences will be forgotten when development projects which are needed for the economic cycle are being presented."

Taimur Jumblat, the son of Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat, has been appointed as a “guiding member” of the party, in a step that would allow him to later run for its leadership council and consequently head the party, reported Voice of Lebanon radio on Monday.

Meanwhile, on Friday Jumblat spoke of a “shock” he will present during the party’s general assembly scheduled for the end of the month, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Saturday.