Former General Security chief Maj. Gen. Jamil Sayyed announced on Saturday that he will be “cutting his ties” with the March 8 camp, following the appointment of the former Internal Security Forces chief as the new Justice Minister.

"I announce cutting communication ties with the March 8 camp,” Sayyed said in a released statement.

With the formation of the new cabinet on Saturday, al-Mustaqbal movement has secured ministries that are concerned with the works of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which is trying in absentia the five suspects accused of killing former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in 2005.

MP Butros Harb, a member of the March 14 camp, has been appointed as the Telecommunications Minister, while former Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi was named the new Justice Minister, weeks after his nomination constituted a challenge that delayed the cabinet's formation.

Former Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi accused on Saturday Hizbullah of obstructing efforts to form a cabinet and of obstructing the functioning of the state.

He said in a statement: “Hizbullah has become addicted to obstructing the functioning of the state and it sought to turn the Interior Ministry portfolio into an obstacle in forming a government.”

A new agreement has reportedly been reached over the naming of a potential interior minister in a new government after the March 8 camp's rejection of former Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi, said al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat led efforts late on Friday night to reach an agreement over naming Mustaqbal MP Nouhad al-Mashnouq instead of Rifi.

Last minute obstacles linked to two key security portfolios prevented the formation of the government on Thursday after the March 8 alliance expressed reservations on making the two of them as part of the share of the March 14 camp.

President Michel Suleiman and Premier-designate Tammam Salam were planning to issue the cabinet formation decrees on Thursday but the Hizbullah-led March 8 team insisted to stick to the threatened boycott of Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

A protected witness from the Internal Security Forces resumed on Thursday his testimony before the Special Tribunal for Lebanon on the role his bureau played in tackling the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri on February 14, 2005.

The witness' cross-examination was conducted by the Defense after he was interrogated on Wednesday by the Prosecution.

Several northern leaders condemned on Saturday the torching of Father Ibrahim Sarrouj's historical library in the northern city of Tripoli, considering that this act does not conform to the teachings of Islam.

Hundreds of civil society members also took to the streets of Tripoli to protest the torching of a decades-old library owned by the Greek Orthodox priest.

A ceremony was held Sunday to light a huge Christmas tree in the northern city of Tripoli, in the presence of several religious, political and social figures.

“This city will preserve its name, image and history, despite all problems,” said Tripoli's Maronite Archbishop Georges Abu Jaoude.

Former Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi on Tuesday hit back at Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun over the issue of the 2009 kidnap of Middle East Airlines employee Joseph Sader.

"Ask your allies and request the minutes of the human rights parliamentary committee's meeting that was held to discuss the kidnappings of Shebli al-Aysami and Sader,” Rifi tweeted.

Former Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi voiced on Saturday his support to the army's procedures in the northern city if Tripoli, remarking that there is no stability if justice was not achieved.

“We urge citizens to cooperate with security forces to achieve stability in Tripoli,” Rifi said after holding talks with the city's MPs at his house.