The Development and Liberation bloc of Speaker Nabih Berri announced on Friday its support for MP Tammam Salam to head a new government.

Berri said: “The Development and Liberation bloc has decided to nominate MP Tammam Salam to head a consensual national government.”

Lawmaker Tammam Salam is set to be tasked at the weekend with forming a new government after the March 14 coalition officially endorsed him as its candidate for the premiership and the March 8 alliance reportedly agreed late Thursday to back him.

The Beirut MP, who is the son of late Prime Minister Saeb Salam, will now be facing the task of forming a new cabinet whose form and type is until now unclear.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat announced on Thursday his support for nominating Beirut MP Tammam Salam for premiership, stating that he will not take part in any one-sided government.

"I have picked Mr. Tammam Salam and I have contacted him,” Jumblat said in an interview on LBCI television.

National Struggle Front members led by MP Walid Jumblat submitted on Thursday to the interior ministry their candidacies for the parliamentary elections.

The National News Agency said the seven candidates are Jumblat, Nehme Tohme, Elie Aoun and Alaeddine Terro from the Shouf district, Akram Shehhayeb representing electorates in Aley, Ayman Shuqair from Baabda and Wael Abu Faour from the Western Bekaa.

Binding consultations for naming a prime minister-designate are likely to result in nearly 60 MPs in favor of the March 14 alliance's candidate, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday as MP Tammam Salam held talks with al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri, a sign that he is the coalition's candidate.

The newspaper said that another 58 MPs would come in support of the March 8 camp's nominee while the rest of the lawmakers would not name any PM-designate who will be tasked with forming the new cabinet less than a month after the resignation of Caretaker Premier Najib Miqati.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri is holding on to the carrying out of the upcoming parliamentary elections on time to "preserve the democratic system in the country."

Hariri, according to al-Liwaa newspaper published on Thursday, hailed the stances of President Michel Suleiman, considering that he is implementing the constitution and the national pact.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat held talks on Wednesday with Lebanese Democratic Party leader MP Talal Arslan on naming a new prime minister-designate.

Arslan said after the talks: “We hope that the parliamentary consultations over naming a new premier will be postponed in order to pave way for an agreement over a candidate.”

Coordination between al-Mustaqbal movement and the Progressive Socialist Party on the best candidate for the post of the prime minister has made strong progress, reports said Thursday.

Several dailies said Caretaker Minister Wael Abou Faour, who had held talks with al-Mustaqbal chief Saad Hariri in Riyadh, briefed President Michel Suleiman on Tuesday on the results of his meeting in the Saudi capital and then traveled back there for another round of talks with Hariri.

The rift between the Lebanese foes is expected to deepen as media reports said on Wednesday that President Michel Suleiman is expected to call for a session for the caretaker cabinet next week.

According to An Nahar newspaper, Suleiman will call for a session that would focus on the preparations for the upcoming parliamentary elections based on the 1960 law.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Tuesday stressed that he will not “voice any stance or comment” on his candidate for the premiership before his upcoming TV interview on Thursday evening.

In a brief phone interview with al-Manar television, Jumblat declined to comment on a media report claiming that he will back former premier Saad Hariri's pick for the premiership.