A Source close to Premier-designate Tammam Salam confirmed that the latter was working to assemble a nonpartisan government in line with the March 14 demand.

"Salam is trying to form a nonpartisan government whose members do not belong to any party and do not provoke anyone," a source close to Salam told The Daily Star.

"Salam wants a homogeneous working team that is capable of tackling the economic and security problems in the country, rather than taking the tension from the street to the Cabinet," the source said.

The source also noted that Salam is also waiting for the results of President Sleiman's challenge against the extension of Parliament's mandate, revealing that he upheld his proposal for a 24-member Cabinet divided equally among figures acceptable to the March 8 and March 14 parties and the centrist bloc, which includes Sleiman, Salam and MP Walid Jumblatt.

Asked what Salam would do if his proposal for such a "three-eight" Cabinet was rejected by the March 8 parties, the source said: "Salam will then mull other options. The formation of a fait accompli government is one of these options."