President Michel Suleiman voiced his concern on Wednesday over the ongoing vacuum in Lebanon given the failure to form a new government.

His visitors reported him as saying that the stalling in the formation process will harm the Lebanese’s interests, especially given the unstable situation in the region, reported the daily Al-Mustaqbal Thursday.

The owners of bakeries vowed to launch an open-ended strike on Wednesday despite a meeting set by Caretaker Economy Minister Mohammed Safadi for Monday to find a solution to their demands.

Head of the Bakeries Association Kazem Ibrahim told An Nahar daily in remarks published Thursday that the strike will be launched next Wednesday and will not reach a halt until the authorities meet the demands of the bakers.

Hizbullah MP Nawaf Moussawi accused the March 14 forces of seeking to avenge the March 8 coalition, mainly Hizbullah and Amal, by pitting southerners against each other over illegal construction on state property.

Moussawi told As Safir daily in remarks published Thursday that March 14, led by al-Mustaqbal movement, sought to “ignite sectarian strife” by pitting neighbors against each other and stirring animosity within the same family members.

Premier-designate Najib Miqati won’t give up his task of forming the new government despite the latest surprising stance made by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun and more crippling demands by other March 8 members, Miqati’s sources told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

“There was an agreement to hold meetings between some leaders including a meeting between Aoun and Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah … but some surprising political stances … shattered the atmosphere of optimism,” the sources said in remarks published Thursday.

The ring that kidnapped the seven Estonian men last month carried out its operation to demand a big ransom after thinking they were British or French tourists, judicial sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

The sources said in remarks published Thursday that the Estonians are still in the custody of their kidnappers – three Lebanese and one Syrian.

Amnesty International urged Lebanese authorities on Thursday to investigate the fate of thousands of people who disappeared during the 1975-1990 civil war and are believed dead or held in Syria.

The appeal came on the 36th anniversary of the outbreak of the sectarian bloodshed that left more than 150,000 people dead.

Libya's deputy foreign minister, Khaled Kaim, has accused Hizbullah of joining the ranks of the rebels fighting against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi’s regime.

Kaim claimed Wednesday that several members of Hizbullah are fighting alongside the rebels in Misrata, but did not provide evidence.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun will hold talks Wednesday night with Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on the regional situations and the cabinet formation issue, political sources quoted Damascus visitors as saying.

The sources told the Central News Agency that the two leaders' talks on the cabinet issue will tackle "the prospect put forward by premier-designate Najib Miqati which is based on constitutional principles and criterion in drafting any cabinet lineup."

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati called on Wednesday the political leaders to take bold steps towards bridging the gap between the Lebanese and present concessions for the country’s greater interests.

He said in a statement marking the 36th anniversary for the eruption of the Lebanese civil war: “This occasion should force us to overcome our current differences, work responsibly on fortifying the country, and tackle disputes through dialogue.”

The March 14 General Secretariat warned on Wednesday that the threat of the eruption of a civil war still stands given the possession of arms outside the state’s authority.

It said after its weekly meeting: “The war may have had several local and external causes, but it would not have happened had it not been for the possession of illegitimate arms among the Lebanese and the existence of several militias that claimed to be resisting Israel.”