Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri returned Monday to Beirut from the United Arab Emirates.
Shortly after his return, Hariri visited Ain el-Tineh for talks with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri, the state-run National News Agency said.
The meeting kicked off the first phase of the Berri-led mediation that is aimed at expediting the new government’s formation.
Hariri left the meeting without making a statement but TV networks described the talks as “positive.”
“Berri has laid out the main characteristics for the line-up’s format: a 24-seat government comprised of nonpartisan specialists and efforts are underway to find a format for the naming of the two remaining (Christian) ministers,” al-Jadeed TV reported, adding that there was “optimism” in Ain el-Tineh after the meeting.