U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday called for the formation of a new Lebanese government that has the “ability” to “implement reforms.”

Pompeo “spoke today with Lebanese President Michel Aoun and welcomed the start of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel to agree on a common maritime boundary,” U.S. State Department Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus said.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim has tested positive for coronavirus while in the U.S. capital Washington, the Lebanese security agency said on Monday.

A statement issued by General Security said Ibrahim was tested prior to his scheduled departure of Washington.

President Michel Aoun received a phone call Monday evening from U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the Presidency said.

The talks tackled “the Lebanese-American relations and the latest developments, including the negotiations over the demarcation of the southern maritime border,” the Presidency added in a statement.

President Michel Aoun has signed the so-called “Student Dollar” law that has been approved by parliament, the Presidency announced on Monday.

The president inked the bill on Friday and the law will enter into force once published in the official gazette.

A large quantity of fuel posing risk to public safety was seized Monday in the Beirut neighborhood of Tariq al-Jedideh, ten days after a gasoline tank explosion in the same area killed three people, injured over 50 and caused massive damage.

In a statement, Beirut Municipality said the quantity was seized after Beirut Governor Marwan Abboud called on all citizens residing or working in Beirut to report any flammable material stored in underground or lower floors of residential buildings.

The International Monetary Fund said Monday that Lebanon’s economy is heading towards a contraction by 25%, compared with an estimated shrinkage of 12% in April -- one of the region's sharpest economic contractions this year.

"Lebanon needs a comprehensive reform program that tackles deep-rooted issues," the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia director Jihad Azour, who is an ex-Lebanese finance minister, said.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said the parliament and himself are ready to do everything necessary from the legislative point of view to compensate for the ones affected by the Beirut port explosion, the National News Agency reported Monday.

The Speaker said “together with the parliament, we are ready to do everything needed from the legislative part to redress the martyrs of the port, their families and all those affected.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri issued a statement on Monday, remembering the slain Internal Security Forces chief Brig. Gen. Wissam el-Hassan, his media office reported.

The Strong Republic parliamentary bloc of the Lebanese Forces, MP Richard Kouyoumjian said Monday that the mere participation of the LF in Thursday’s binding consultations to name a new prime minister grants it the legitimacy needed.

“The mere participation of the Lebanese Forces in the binding parliamentary consultations gives the talks the constitutionality needed regardless if the bloc names the nominated figure or not,” said MP Richard Kouhoumjian in a tweet.

Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly described as “obscure” the atmosphere around the controversial formation of Lebanon’s government, media reports said on Monday.