U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Michael Williams called the rocket attack from southern Lebanon on Israel a “very serious development” and hoped the government formation process would be placed “back on track.”
“It is a very very serious development and I would call on all sides to exercise absolute caution and restraint,” Williams said following talks with MP Saad Hariri in Qoreitem on Friday.

On the crisis in cabinet formation, he said: “The United Nations regrets the failure of the different political sides to reach an agreement on forming a new government.”

“I regret that the efforts of the parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri were not successful,” he added.

He believed, however, that a solution could be found and hoped that the consultations which President Michel Suleiman will launch with parliamentary blocs “will be successful in placing the process of government formation back on track.”

“When I met with President Suleiman on Wednesday at Beiteddine, we agreed that dialogue must be maintained and that Lebanon must not return to the old days of polarization and crisis,” Williams told reporters.

“If the Lebanese remain committed to the objective of a national unity government and work towards this goal, I believe it will be achieved,” he added.