President Michel Aoun did not approve the draft line-up of a new cabinet submitted to him by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri, contrary to claims that alleged otherwise, which spoils the hopes of a near final agreement on the shape of the new government, media reports said Friday.

During their meeting on Wednesday, reports said that Hariri submitted to Aoun a draft line-up that might be announced soon.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi held a meeting with President Michel Aoun on Friday one day after the latter paid him a protocol visit in Bkirki.

“I am here today to congratulate the President on the occasion of Independence Day which regained its luster and meaning in the presence of Aoun, the President, the basis of our dignity, before I head to Rome,” said the Patriarch.

The Lebanese army arrested on Friday at dawn, several suspects in the Syrian encampments in the northeastern border town of Arsal, the National News Agency reported.

The army carried out a wide deployment operation in the area, and staged raids on the encampments of displaced Syrians in the town of Ain al-Shaab as they searched for fugitives, NNA said.

A national unity government will be difficult to form in light of the objection of some political parties to include other political components in the cabinet or object to their share in the line-up, al-Akhbar daily reported on Friday.

“Minister Jebran Bassil rejects the share of the Marada (Movement), and the Lebanese Forces object to Kataeb's, which is not conducive to the formation of a national unity government,” well-informed sources of al-Mustaqbal told the daily.

Lebanese Forces MP Antoine Zahra stated on Thursday that the government formation process is almost complete and the line-up that was leaked to media outlets is near final.

“The leaked government line-up that was circulated in media outlets is true and almost final,” Zahra told LBCI.

Financial General Prosecutor Judge Ali Ibrahim referred detainee and top cellphone dealer Kamel Amhaz and two airport security personnel to First Military Investigative Judge Riad Abou Ghaida, LBCI reported on Thursday.

The defense ministry will not be allotted to the Lebanese Forces in the new cabinet line-up because of the party's political project which reports said it “contradicts the combat doctrine of the Lebanese army,” media reports said Thursday.

The LF will not be given one of the so-called sovereign portfolios in the new government, mainly the defense ministry, as long as the party carries a political project that deviates from the army's combat doctrine, said al-Akhbar daily.

A suggestion to drop the formation of a 30-minister cabinet and return to the original formula of forming it of 24 ministers is a proposal suggested by Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri who brought up the issue with President Michel Aoun during their meeting Monday, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Tuesday.

The reports said that Hariri has informed Speaker Nabih Berri on the matter during their meeting on Saturday. His suggestion stems from plans to downsize the demands of political parties for ministerial portfolios, taking into consideration to form a national unity cabinet that represents all sides.

Commander of the Lebanese Armed Forces General Jean Qahwaji met with British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter and United States Chargé d’Affaires Danny Hall and talks focused on the Land Border Security Project, a news release said Monday.

The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the on-going UK and U.S. support for the Lebanese army and the border project, including the construction, training, and equipment being provided in order to reach the goal of securing the entirety of the Lebanon-Syria border.

Saudi State Minister for Gulf Affairs Thamer al-Sabhan denied reports claiming that President Michel Aoun is leading negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, the pan-Arab al-Hayat daily reported.

“I do not think there is a mediation carried out by the Lebanese President Michel Aoun,” al-Sabhan told the daily.