Contacts between Lebanon’s political parties on the government formation stalemate reportedly “intensified” Tuesday night after ex-PM Saad Hariri proposed an initiative aimed at finding a solution to the deadlock over the finance ministerial portfolio, al-Liwaa newspaper reported Wednesday.

France urged competing political forces in Lebanon to agree on forming a government "without delay" as it ramped up pressure for a new cabinet in the crisis-hit country.

Beirut resident Vany Bandikian once dreamt of travelling outside Lebanon, but after a massive explosion wrecked her neighbourhood, all she wants is to stay in the home her father built.

Ex-PM Saad Hariri’s initiative on the finance portfolio might be a “positive” step in terms of “giving the Shiite duo what it wants,” but the issue has not yet reached a positive conclusion, Shiite duo sources said on Tuesday.

“Hariri’s initiative is a step forward and we hope there will be communication with the President, who is a partner in the formation process,” the sources told al-Jadeed TV.

Former premiers Najib Miqati, Fouad Saniora and Tammam Salam on Tuesday distanced themselves from an initiative put forward by ex-PM Saad Hariri to resolve the row over the finance ministerial portfolio, describing the move as a “personal initiative.”

“The Lebanese constitution is very clear: no ministerial portfolio can be an exclusive right to ministers belonging to a certain sect, and also the constitution does not forbid any Lebanese, regardless of their sect, to be in charge of any ministerial portfolio in Lebanon,” the ex-PM said in a statement.

Ex-PM Saad Hariri on Tuesday proposed an initiative aimed at finding a solution to the deadlock over the finance ministerial portfolio.

“I have decided to help PM-designate (Mustafa) Adib find an exit through naming an independent finance minister from the Shiite sect who would be chosen by him, similarly to the rest of ministers, on the basis of competency, integrity and non-partisanship,” Hariri said in a written statement.

A strong explosion shook a Hizbullah stronghold in southern Lebanon on Tuesday, but the cause was not immediately clear.

As TV networks said the blast ripped through a "house belonging to Hizbullah," pro-Hizbullah journalist Salem Zahran said it occurred at a depot for storing "shells from the war era," adding that it caused no casualties.

A fire broke out on Tuesday at the northern port of Tripoli that stepped in after the mega explosion at the country’s major port in Beirut in August, raising eyebrows about frequent similar incidents in the country.

Media reports said the fire broke out in a ship maintenance workshop outside the campus of the Port of Tripoli.

President Michel Aoun called on world leaders on Tuesday to secure the safe return of Syrian refugees in light of Lebanon’s crippling crises.

The Shiite duo, AMAL Movement and Hizbullah, have shown no leniency in relinquishing demands to retain the finance ministerial portfolio and to name their ministers in the upcoming government, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.