Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati said Monday that his resignation opened way for the discussion on the possibility of holding national dialogue and urged officials to discuss ways to provide incentives for the success of the upcoming cabinet.

“The resignation was aimed at creating a positive shock amid the difficult circumstances that the country is going through. And this became clear through the resumption of talk on dialogue,” Miqati told visiting delegations at his hometown of Tripoli in the North.

Speaker Nabih Berri called on March 14 alliance to engage in dialogue with foes after the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Miqati's cabinet, stressing that the all-party talks should focus on the formation of a new government.

“The way is open for the resumption of dialogue under the auspices of President (Michel) Suleiman,” Berri said in comments published in An Nahar on Sunday.

The cabinet's session was concluded one hour and a half after it kicked off on Friday, amid rumors that Prime Minister Najib Miqati will announce his resignation from the Grand Serail after the ministers failed to agree on the formation of a committee to oversee the elections, the National News Agency reported.

"President Michel Suleiman suspended the session and stated that he will not head a cabinet meeting that does not have the article about forming the committee to oversee the elections on the top of its agenda,” Social Affairs Minister Wael Aou Faour told reporters after the meeting.

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi stressed on Friday that he will hand over his post at the end of March, ruling out that the cabinet would extend his tenure.

“The extension of my term requires the votes of two-thirds of the cabinet, which will not be provided as more than half of the members reject the extension of my tenure,” Rifi told An Nahar newspaper.

The March 14 alliance is seeking signatures on a parliamentary petition to urge Speaker Nabih Berri to call for an urgent session to discuss and approve a draft-law that extends the retirement age of officers in leadership posts in security agencies amid a strong opposition by the Free Patriotic movement.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Wednesday, the opposition is pressing the extension of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji to safeguard the country.

A delegation of Beirut MPs slammed on Tuesday the attack against Dar al-Fatwa sheikhs on Sunday, urging the army to strike with an iron fist all who deign to tamper with Lebanon's security, stability, and civil peace.

It said: “Muslims, Shiites in particular, are not linked to such acts and the condemnations issued by Shiite figures is an indication of this matter.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea described on Tuesday the cabinet as “criminal,” lashing out at it for not holding a session to take exceptional measures to confront the critical security situation.

“The government is leaving the Lebanese at a state of insecurity and living in a deteriorating situation,” Geagea said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi rejected on Friday to comment on reports saying that officials are mulling the extension of his tenure, which ends in April.

Rifi said in comments published in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Anbaa that the matter is a “political affair.”

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MPs submitted an urgent proposal to modify the retirement age of officers in leadership posts in the army, the Internal Security Forces and other security agencies.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Tuesday, lawmakers Ziad al-Qaderi, Nuhad al-Mashnouq, Atef Majdalani and Hadi Hobeish submitted an urgent draft law to increase the retirement age to 63.

Internal Security Forces chief Ashraf Rifi honored on Friday the informer in the case of former Minister Michel Samaha.

He described Milad Kfouri as a “citizen who demonstrated special patriotism because he uncovered a dangerous plot” against the country.