Caretaker Minister of Economy and Trade Mohammed Safadi criticized on Monday those who accused him of “betrayal” after Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s election, warning that they should not consider his silence as a sign of weakness.

He said: “We are the most eager to adopt a position that would unite Lebanon’s Sunnis. We are the most eager to uncover the truth behind the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and we will confront anyone who tarnishes his image.”

The Phalange Party politburo stated on Monday that it is time that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati “get his act together” and form a new government as soon as possible.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting that since the premier had asserted that he is not being subject to any pressure, he should be able to form a new government soon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Monday the Lebanese army’s discovery of the Israeli spy system at Shamaa last week.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated Al-Anbaa magazine: “The discovery is new evidence that Lebanon is greatly exposed on the political and security levels.”

Hizbullah MP Nawwaf Moussawi accused the March 14 camp of seeking to thwart Prime Minister-designate from forming a new government, stressing that the Resistance is keen on establishing a strong and just state.

He said: “The March 14 forces’ current campaign is aimed at removing Miqati from his position, which is why they are inciting strife while world powers, headed by the U.S., are exerting direct pressure to prevent the formation of the government.”

MP Marwan Hamadeh denied on Monday that he had made remarks against Hizbullah during the 2006 war, stressing that he was keen at that period to consolidate Lebanese sovereignty on all territories.

His remarks were carried by al-Akhbar newspaper in alleged WikiLeaks cables.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel believed that Hizbullah’s victory in the July 2006 war would be a “disaster” for Lebanon, revealed a leaked U.S. Embassy cable published exclusively in Al-Akhbar on Monday.

The WikiLeaks cable spoke of a meeting between Gemayel and then U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Jeffery Feltman during which the former explained that a Hizbullah victory would allow the party to completely control Lebanon and empower its Iranian and Syrian allies in the region.

Former Premier Fouad Saniora expected Hizbullah to disappear from the south, saying it couldn’t lie “in the same bed with the Lebanese army and UNIIFL,” said a WikiLeaks cable published by al-Akhbar daily on Monday.

According to the cable, Saniora told ambassadors of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council on August 14, 2006 that he had given Hizbullah a chance “to disarm immediately or after the Israeli withdrawal or hand over its arms to the Lebanese army.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat and MP Marwan Hamadeh have reportedly warned that Hizbullah would continue to attack Israel even if both parties reached a ceasefire.

According to a WikiLeaks cable published by al-Akhbar daily, Jumblat and Hamadeh told U.S. diplomats during a dinner on August 6, 2006 that Speaker Nabih Berri and Hizbullah should be pressured into accepting a ceasefire.

The delay in the formation of the government does not amount to a political crisis, well-informed sources told As Safir daily as sources close to Premier-designate Najib Miqati and Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed that this week will be decisive.

The sources of Miqati and Berri told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat in remarks published Monday that optimism on a possible cabinet formation this week was linked to the level of mediation by Miqati’s allies to solve the deadlock created by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun’s demands.

Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated that he would refer a draft law proposed by the civil society on the transition to a secular state to involved parliamentary committees.

In remarks to An Nahar daily published Monday, Berri said: “My stance from the abolishment of political confessionalism has been clear for years.”