Hariri said the formation process was moving forward as "it should be," adding that he would keep up his ongoing consultations with political parties.

On Sunday, Sleiman also met French Senator Ladislas Poniatowski, who congratulated the Lebanese on their June 7 elections and wished Lebanon stability and security.

Earlier on Sunday, media reports claimed that a secret meeting took place on Saturday between Hariri and Sleiman at Baabda presidential palace.

A source close to the Future Movement leader dismissed the reports and told The Daily Star that such media leaks "aimed to pressure Sleiman with regard to the upcoming cabinet by depicting him as responsible for the delay in the formation process."

While Future Movement figures reiterated on Sunday that opposition groups were hampering the formation of the next government by insisting on being granted the blocking-third vote, Hizbullah blamed the delay on foreign intervention.

The source close to Hariri said the opposition's "high-pitched demands" with regard to the structure of the next cabinet were hindering its formation.

"The opposition groups are still insisting on being granted the obstructing third in the next government which delayes the agreement on the cabinet's shape," the source added.

He explained that Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's advice not to pressure Hariri into quickly forming the government was an indicator that the opposition "was in no hurry to reach an agreement."

Concerning Nasrallah's remarks on Friday that Hizbullah wanted no guarantees on his party's arms, the source said the statement implied that Hizbullah "needed" no assurances.

Commenting on Loyalty to the Resistance bloc MP Mohammad Raad's statement on Sunday blaming the delay in the cabinet's formation on foreign intervention, the source stressed that it was up to Lebanese leaders to decide on the government's makeup.

"The March 14 Forces never denied that there is foreign influence on Lebanon's political situation, however, such influence should remain limited and the Lebanese leaders should domestically reach an agreement on the cabinet's form," the source said.

Raad said earlier on Sunday that foreign obstacles were hindering the formation of the cabinet, adding that domestic circumstances were favorable for speeding up the process.

"We don't consider the domestic difficulties as obstructive - on the contrary, circumstances are favorable for the prompt formation of a representative national-unity cabinet," Raad said.


Speaking during a rally to mark the 60th anniversary assassination of Syrian Social Nationalist Party (SSNP) founder Antoun Saadeh, Raad stressed that attempts by foreign sides to hamper the formation of the next cabinet could only be surpassed through cooperation and unity among the Lebanese.

"Given Lebanon's geopolitical status, only unity can preserve the country's stability and allow the people to accomplish true independence away from foreign intervention," Raad said.

Concerning the Israeli violations of Lebanese territories, Raad slammed the bias of the international community, accusing it of interfering to impose security "only when the aggressors experience failure."

"The international community intervenes once the assailants face trouble, however, when the Lebanese people call for security they take side to [protect] the aggressors' interests," Raad said, in reference to Israel.

Meanwhile, Amal Movement MP Ali Hassan Khalil on Sunday urged all Lebanese political parties support the resistance and the Lebanese Armed Forces, adding that they complemented each other.

Speaking during the same SSNP rally, Khalil said Lebanon was ready to deal with any Israeli offensive. Nevertheless, the Amal MP stressed the country's commitment to UN Security Council Resolution 1701.

In other news, Frederick Hove, assistant of the US president's special envoy to the Middle East George Mitchell, is expected to arrive in Beirut next week following visits to Syria and Israel, according to the Central News Agency (CNA).

The CNA report said Hove's visit would pave the way for Mitchell's Middle East trip which will include visits to Israel, Syria and Lebanon, before the end of the month.


Berri calls for abolishing sectarianism


BEIRUT: Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Sunday the need to form a national committee to abolish political sectarianism. Berri explained that sectarianism undermined state authority and had led to disappointments in the past era.

Berri, who was re-elected as the Amal Movement's leader, called during the movement's 12th convention for boosting partnership among the Lebanese.

"I'm not referring to sectarian partnership between Lebanese factions, but to the participation of expatriates, women and the young generation in state affairs and Lebanon's civil society," Berri said.

Tackling the concerns of the residents of south Lebanon and Hermel, Berri criticized the government's negligence, adding that developmental projects in the regions were as important as plans to drill for fuel oil along the coastline.

Berri also said Amal would work toward lowering the cost of debt servicing in order to implement "just and comprehensive developmental programs."