Outgoing PM Saad Hariri and his Al-Mustaqbal Movement on Thursday demanded that PM-designate Najib Miqati clarify his position on the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL) before deciding on whether or not to join the new government.

MP Fouad Saniora, speaking on behalf of Al-Mustaqbal bloc, said Miqati was asked during consultations with Hariri to say clearly whether his government would cease all cooperation with the STL.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly held talks Thursday evening with outgoing premier Saad Hariri at his residence in downtown Beirut, the U.S. Embassy announced in a statement.

Connelly and Hariri discussed the ongoing parliamentary consultations and the position of the Mustaqbal bloc, said the statement.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem on Thursday urged all political parties in Lebanon to join a new government headed by Najib Miqati and opposed by outgoing Premier Saad Hariri.

"We call on all parties to join the Miqati cabinet, and Syria is ready to cooperate with this government," Muallem told a joint news conference with his British counterpart William Hague.

MTV Lebanon, a leading independent media station in Lebanon and the MENA region, has selected Eurisko Mobility to develop various mobile applications for all major platforms (iPhone / iPad, BlackBerry, Android, Symbian, Windows Mobile).

Eurisko Mobility, (www.euriskomobility.com), will combine a wide range of advanced mobile techniques to develop a unique concept to be introduced by MTV for the first time in the Middle East and the world. The exact details of the application are being kept under a shroud of secrecy.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati's meeting with outgoing PM Saad Hariri on Wednesday as part of a series of protocol visits on former prime ministers lasted barely a few minutes, local media reported.

Footage aired on television stations showed the two men sitting silently.

German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke said the task given to Najib Miqati to form a new government is “not easy.”

He said his government is “carefully monitoring the developments in Lebanon since they have an impact on the region.”

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati on Thursday launched efforts to form a new government amid outgoing PM Saad Hariri's insistence on an all-out boycott of his al-Mustaqbal bloc in the new Cabinet and March 14 forces' unclear stance.

Miqati began his consultations at Parliament by meeting Speaker Nabih Berri.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati stressed on openness and dialogue and said he was comfortable at the local atmosphere and the prospect of ties with the Arab world and the international community.

In remarks to An Nahar and al-Hayat newspapers on Thursday, Miqati described regional and international reactions to his mission as “very good.”

Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague arrived in Syria late Wednesday to hold talks with officials about political developments in Lebanon and the stalled Middle East peace process, officials said.

The Foreign Office said that Hague would meet with President Bashar Assad and Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem during the 24-hour visit.

U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice accused Hizbullah and Syria of using "intimidation, pressure and threats of violence" to make wealthy businessman Najib Miqati prime minister.

"Of course we are closely following events in Lebanon. It is now up to the Lebanese to determine how to form their own government, " Rice said in response to a question.