Saad Hariri appeared to have made up his mind to quit as prime minister-designate, but has decided to suspend his resignation at the request of the President, the Speaker and Druze leader Walid Jumblat.
An-Nahar newspaper on Thursday, citing officials from the majority March 14 coalition, said President Michel Suleiman, Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Jumblat have asked Hariri to suspend his resignation “to give talks with Opposition a final chance.”

Meanwhile, al-Akhbar daily said it has learned that Suleiman, Berri and Jumblat insist that Hariri does not bow out.

It said the three leaders aimed at keeping the door to negotiations open in an effort to reach a solution where every political party would name the minister it wants.

Hariri openly hinted during an iftar on Wednesday that he wanted to step down.

Nevertheless, Hariri revealed that he would take “decisive steps in the coming two or three days that are in the best interest of the country.”