Intensive consultations to form a new cabinet continued on Tuesday among the various political parties as former Prime Minister Saad Hariri held phone talks with his Christian allies.

Hariri telephoned Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and Phalange Party Central Committee Coordinator MP Sami Gemayel and discussed with them the latest developments in the formation process, after the two Christian leaders voiced concerns on Monday.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday warned against forming a cabinet containing representatives of both the March 8 and March 14 rival political camps.

“An active cabinet that can pull Lebanon out of this dangerous abyss can only be a cabinet driven by a single horse in the right direction and call it whatever you want to call it,” said Geagea at a rally titled “Era of Justice” that was held in Maarab on the occasion of the imminent start of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon trial.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said Saturday that the March 14 alliance hasn't yet decided whether it would participate in a 24-member national unity government.

In remarks to al-Jadeed TV, Geagea said: “We haven't yet decided on our participation in an 8-8-8 cabinet.”

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora visited on Saturday President Michel Suleiman, who urged all parties to make concessions to form a government that wins parliament's vote of confidence.

Saniora's press office said after his talks with Suleiman at Baabda Palace that the meeting was “serious” and “honest.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea reiterated on Monday his rejection to the formation of an all-embracing cabinet, stressing the importance of carrying out the presidential elections on time.

“We are passing through a delicate stage and only five months separate us from the presidential elections deadline... The only reasonable thing is to form a cabinet that aims at achieving Lebanon's highest interest without March 8 and 14 alliances,” Geagea said in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed that political assassinations will fail in coercing the March 14 camp to back down from its positions on dialogue and the formation of a new government, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

He told the daily: “We will not sign any constitutional concession regardless of the cost.”

A delegation from the March 14 coalition on Friday announced that the period after the assassination of former minister Mohammed Shatah will be nothing like the period that preceded the operation.

The announcement came after the delegation met with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea at his headquarters in Maarab.

Slain former Finance Minister Mohammed Shatah and his bodyguard Tareq Bader were laid to rest on Sunday after a political and popular funeral in downtown Beirut.

The victims were buried at the mausoleum of slain former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Beirut.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea met with Progressive Socialist Party head MP Walid Jumblat last week, LBCI television reported on Thursday.

"The meeting took place during a dinner banquet thrown by (National Struggle Front) MP Nehme Tohme,” LBCI said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stressed on Wednesday that talks are ongoing to end the current deadlock in the country, considering that the 6-9-9 cabinet formula would paralyze the country if adopted.

“Our stance concerning the government formation is clear,” Gaegea told reporters at Bkirki after hold a behind-closed doors meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi to offer his congratulations on the occasion of Christmas.