Suleiman: Lebanon Should Take Advantage of International Support to Form New Govt.
President Michel Suleiman hoped on Monday that the new year will witness the formation of a new government.
He said: “Lebanon should take advantage of the current international support in order to form a new cabinet.”
He hoped that the cabinet would be formed in early 2014.
Earlier, the president had held contacts to follow up on the latest developments regarding Sunday's rocket attacks from southern Lebanon against Israel and the Jewish state's consequent retaliation.
Suleiman, who held talks at the Baabda Palace with Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji, stressed the importance of implementing United Nations Security Council resolution 1701.
Two missiles fired from southern Lebanon exploded Sunday in northern Israel, prompting the Israeli military to hit back with 20 shells against the South.
No one from either side of the border was wounded in the incident.
Suleiman also followed up on Sunday's assault against Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, condemning the incident.
“The attack goes against the Lebanese spirit and traditions,” he remarked before his visitors.
Later on Monday, Suleiman telephoned Saudi King Abdullah to thank him for the kingdom's support to the army.
He also received a telephone call from French President Francois Hollande, who renewed his country's support for Lebanon.
The French President expressed his country's readiness to meet the demands of the Lebanese army through coordination between the two countries' defense ministries and army commands.
Suleiman later held talks on the government formation efforts and latest developments with head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora.
The president announced on Sunday that Saudi Arabia had pledged to grant Lebanon three billion dollars with the aim of purchasing French weapons for the Lebanese army as soon as possible.
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