When asked about the government’s make-up, the source refused to disclose the final structure, however, he said that the formula agreed upon by the opposition and the parliamentary majority was “innovative.”

“I can say that the structure [of the next cabinet] agreed upon between the opposition and the [parliamentary] majority was different from the proposed 15-10-5 formula that media outlets carried on Monday,” the source said.

The 15-10-5 formula grants the March 14 coalition 15 ministers, the opposition 10 and the president five, which ensures that Sleiman would hold the tipping voice while neither the March 14 nor the opposition would be granted an absolute majority or veto power.

Similarly, sources close to Hariri said on Monday that opposition groups would probably relinquish their demand for veto power in the next cabinet.

Tackling the timing of the cabinet’s formation, Berri said in remarks published on Monday that “the current week will be decisive since it would reveal the direction of the formation’s process.”

Berri in an interview with As-Safir stressed that positive developments were likely to take place with regard to the government’s formation.

“Positive developments might materialize especially since an agreement on the cabinet’s formation should have taken place last Wednesday,” Berri told As-Safir, a reference to his weekly meeting with Sleiman at the Baabda presidential palace.

Berri, who urged the Lebanese leaders to form the cabinet domestically rather than wait for foreign intervention, stressed that the distribution of ministerial portfolios would not represent an obstacle if the “government’s foundations” were agreed upon.

Berri also praised Hariri’s willingness to visit Syria following the cabinet’s formation and denied any disagreements with his ally, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

“Aoun was entitled to negotiate his cabinet’s share like anyone else,” Berri told As-Safir.

Meanwhile, Aoun on Monday criticized foreign intervention in Lebanon’s domestic affairs as well as the parliamentary majority for failing to form the cabinet domestically. Aoun said in his weekly editorial published on his party’s website Tayyar.org on Monday that “we no longer know who was forming the government or where.”

Aoun also slammed the United States and European countries for “claiming to protect Lebanon.” “They are well aware that their actions would lead to [the country’s] explosion,” he said.

Aoun stressed that national-unity was the people’s only choice if they were to safeguard the state and themselves.

Similarly, Aoun’s ally, Hizbullah’s Loyalty to Resistance bloc head MP Mohammad Raad stressed on Monday that no internal obstacles faced the cabinet’s formation.

“The Americans and their regional allies were applying pressure to hamper attempts to form the government,” Raad said.

Speaking during a rally in the southern village of Qleileh, Raad said the opposition made all possible efforts to facilitate the formation of a “government where true partnership is ensured.”

Slamming the US accusations of Hizbullah violating United Nations Resolution 1701, Raad underscored that such claims aimed to cover up for Israeli breaches of Lebanese sovereignty, adding that the resistance “is stronger than it used to be.”

Meanwhile, Phalange Party head MP Amine Gemayel criticized on Monday calls by Hizbullah for veto power in the next government. “The demand by one of Hizbullah’s officials to be granted veto power as to obstruct any decision unapproved by it go against the principles of democracy,” Gemayel said.

Concerning talks with Marada Movement leader Sleiman Franjieh on Sunday, Gemayel stressed following a meeting with Lebanese Forces (LF) Environment Minister Toni Karam that Sunday’s discussions were not at the expense of the Phalange party’s relation with the LF.

In other news, Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblatt slammed on Monday Arab divisions with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Jumblatt said in his weekly editorial in PSP’s Al-Anbaa weekly newspaper that he rejected any settlement with Israel at the expense of the Arab cause, adding that Arabism was losing ground “given the schism among Arab states.”