国际英语新闻:Lebanon makes no progress towards ending government formation crisis

BEIRUT, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- Attempts to break the months-long government formation in Lebanon slowed down on Sunday, local TV Channel NBN reported.

"It is not clear whether there will be any progress in this regard or not in the absence of Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri who traveled to Paris for personal reasons," it said.

Hariri has been facing various hurdles in his attempt to form a 30-member national unity government because of rifts among rival politicians over the representation of the main Christian parties and Druze sect.

Few days ago, Lebanon was capable of clearing a major hurdle after Lebanese Forces (LF) Leader Samir Geagea said that he accepted Hariri's offer to grant the LF four ministries.

Meanwhile, the Druze representation will be solved by giving two portfolios to the Progressive Socialist Party (PSP) headed by MP Walid Jumblatt and a third Druze minister would receive consensual support.

However, one obstacle has remained.

Sunni MPs from outside Hariri's Future Movement have been demanding to be represented by at least one seat in the government but Hariri refused the demand while Hezbollah has insisted it to be accepted.

A solution has not been found yet for this issue.