Government deadlock: Latest developments

President Michel Aoun and the Free Patriotic Movement's demands regarding the new government are "heavy", sources said.

The sources told al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Friday, that Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati will not accept Aoun's demands, supported by what Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday, that "parliament is the only side entrusted with interpreting the constitution."

"The constitution's interpretations say that any government can be in charge," the sources said, explaining that since Mikati has these arguments, he will not give Aoun what he wants.

Sources close to Baabda had hinted to the daily that Aoun and Mikati had only discussed the line-up's form and composition, and that the discussions did not evolve to the new ministers' names.

The sources said that Mikati had approved adding six ministers of sate to the new government, and that Aoun justified this demand by the non-success of the technocrat government in the past and the need to have ministers who represent the political powers, especially in case of a Presidential vacuum.

"The government would then have the powers of the President, in this case political representation becomes urgent and necessary," the sources said.

Media reports had previously said that the consultations between Aoun and Mikati had made no progress at all in their last meeting on Wednesday.