The March 14 forces have reportedly preconditioned their participation in the cabinet on the inclusion in the policy statement of articles stressing Lebanon’s commitment to the international tribunal and preserving political life from arms.

Informed March 14 forces told An Nahar daily in remarks published Sunday that the coalition is insisting on including two articles that stress the country’s “commitment to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the protection of political life from the predominance of weapons.”

Caretaker Labor Minister Butros Harb noted on Saturday that the government formation is not only facing obstacles from the March 14 camp, but also “greater ones” from the March 8 camp.

He noted after meeting with United Nations Relief and Works Agency Commissioner-General Filippo Grandi: “The greater problem lies between Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and President Michel Suleiman and between the forces that nominated the premier-designate to his position.”

Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammed Safadi stated on Saturday that he voted for Najib Miqati for the premiership out of Lebanon’s interest and the safety of its people.

He said before his visitors in Tripoli: “I voted for him and stand by him over his desire to maintain Lebanon and its democratic system, as well as his keenness to bolster Tripoli’s position in the country.”

Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Nawwaf Moussawi stressed on Saturday that change was achieved on the Lebanese political scene through strong will and “brave political leaderships that are being accused of treason.”

“These leaders are responding to accusations of treason with courage in confronting American security, political, and economic threats,” he said.

Expert church circles revealed that the closed-door scheduled between Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir and Pope Benedict XVI in Rome will represent a suitable opportunity to discuss the former’s resignation.

They told As Safir newspaper in remarks published on Saturday that the resignation is expected to be finalized in early March.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Shami requested on Friday from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that a “maritime security line similar to the Blue Line in southern Lebanon be demarcated in the country’s regional waters.”

He said in a letter to the U.N. official that the demarcation would fall under the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon’s role in designating the land border.

Political sources monitoring the formation of the new government revealed that the recent meeting Thursday night between Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati with Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil “has not overcome the several obstacles regarding FPM leader MP Michel Aoun’s demands over the new cabinet, including his demand for the interior ministry portfolio.”

They told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that House Speaker Nabih Berri had proposed that Aoun be granted the foreign ministry, while the speaker would assume the energy and defense ministries and the president would retain the interior ministry, but the suggestion was rejected.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea noted that the current process of forming a new government is a “major embarrassment”.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Saturday that the current chaos over the cabinet formation will not threaten Lebanon even if it does take a long time to set up a government, explaining that the army, security forces, and justice system will prevent any instability.

Sources monitoring the Special Tribunal for Lebanon expected on Friday that the indictment in the investigation into the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri will be issued in two weeks.

They told the Central News Agency that 70 days are available for approving the indictment, meaning that the indictment may be revealed at the end of March at the latest.

Israeli deputy Prime Minister Silvan Shalom threatened on Friday Hizbullah Secretary General Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah by saying: “We are not keen on battle, but if it is imposed on us, them we will return you Nasrallah to the underground hideout where you will stay for years.”

“The Galilee is prospering and we are spending money on it for it to prosper,” he stated.