An appeasing statement issued by the presidential palace came in parallel with indications that political parties might have reached an agreement over the thorny issue of distribution of ministerial portfolios, heralding the formation of a new cabinet soon, al-Joumhouria daily reported Saturday.

The presidential message came at a time when the cabinet line-up is almost complete, sources from Baabda Presidential Palace told the daily.

In light of various media reports that tackled the position of President Michel Aoun as for the formation of a cabinet and the distribution of ministerial portfolios, the office of the presidency issued a statement assuring that the President is determined to address the concerns of all politicians and invited them to meet with him at Baabda Palace.

“Explaining the reports published in media outlets over the past days, President Michel Aoun confirms his commitment to the concerns of everyone and his determination to address them all,” said the statement issued Friday.

In the framework of tracking sleeping terror cells, the General Security arrested a Lebanese national on suspicion of having involvement with a terrorist organization, the General Directorate of the General Security said in a statement Friday.

During interrogation the detainee, identified as A.A., confessed to having been active with a terrorist organization at the logistical level, and transporting arms and ammunition, all in favor of terrorists based in the outskirts of the northeastern town of Arsal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu kicked off a visit to Beirut on Friday where he held meetings with senior Lebanese officials.

Cavusoglu first held a meeting with newly elected President Michel Aoun at the Presidential Palace. He conveyed a message from Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan congratulating the Lebanese Head of State on his election, and reiterating the importance of strengthening the Turkish-Lebanese relations.

The Lebanese Forces urged the political parties, without naming them, which it blames for delaying the cabinet formation, to stop their endeavors because “they will be proven futile,” al-Joumhouria daily reported Friday.

LF sources called on the political parties reportedly hampering the formation of the cabinet to quit the obstruction since “this method proved ineffectiveness with President Michel Aoun, and with Prime Minister-designate Saad al-Hariri.”

The presidential palace resumed in the last hours the activation of its contact channels in a bid to contribute to the facilitation of the obstacles that have so far hampered the formation of a new cabinet under the tenure of President Michel Aoun, al-Mustaqbal daily reported Friday.

Progressive Socialist party leader MP Walid Jumblat made a sarcastic comment on Thursday about the delayed efforts to form a new cabinet, following the election of a president and the designation of a PM, saying that the new government is still insulated.

An Internal Security Forces member was deadly shot in the Choueifat area southeast of Beirut, the state-run National News Agency reported Thursday.

Unknown assailants opened gunfire from a hunting rifle at on duty ISF member Mohammed al-Arab killing him instantly, NNA said.

In line with the efforts to form a cabinet 28 days after the designation of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, reports published in al-Rai daily on Thursday said that the parliament may not give its vote of confidence shall a de-facto cabinet be formed.

“Choosing to form a de-facto cabinet might, in the worst case, make it face a no-confidence vote of the parliament,” unnamed sources told the daily on condition of anonymity.

The endeavors to line-up a cabinet are focusing now on the share that will be allotted to the Marada Movement after an agreement was reached with regard to the portfolios that will be given to the Lebanese Forces and the Democratic Gathering bloc, media reports said.

The efforts exerted to overcome the obstacles are focusing now on the portfolio that will be assigned to the Marada which will probably be the health ministry. Sources said that the only two parties which fulfilled the requirements and are out of the discussions now are the LF and the Democratic Gathering, An Nahar daily reported Thursday.