Relatives of Lebanese expatriates stranded in civil war-torn Ivory Coast staged a sit-in Sunday in front of Lebanon's foreign ministry in Beirut, demanding a solution to the humanitarian crisis.

A number of expats who had managed to return to Lebanon also took part in the sit-in.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri credited on Thursday slain former Premier Rafik Hariri with rebuilding Beirut, saying that he helped transform it from a ghost town to a “city of dreams.”

Hariri made his statements during a ceremony unveiling a statue of the former prime minister before the Grand Serail in downtown Beirut.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has reportedly held a telephone conversation with Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri, the first contact between the two men since the Druze leader named Najib Miqati as premier-designate more than two months ago.

Pan-Arab daily al-Hayat quoted informed sources as saying on Tuesday that Jumblat called Hariri and stressed to him the need to return to the national dialogue table.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri has reportedly told March 14 officials not to target Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat who has fallen out of the alliance.

“I don’t want anyone to target Walid Jumblat ever,” Hariri has said, according to the Kuwaiti daily al-Anbaa.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri discussed with the Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Assiri the latest developments and bilateral ties.

Hariri met Assiri late on Friday at the Center House, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri has reportedly told former U.S. Ambassador Jeffrey Feltman that he would abolish Hizbullah once the Lebanese army is consolidated.

In a WikiLeaks cable published by al-Akhbar daily on Monday, Hariri told Feltman during a meeting in Qoreitem on August 20, 2006 that as long as the army is weaker than Hizbullah, then it should be in a less threatening position.

The inauguration mass of Beshara al-Rahi, the country’s 77th Maronite patriarch, is scheduled to be held in Bkirki on Friday afternoon with the attendance of the country’s top leaders.

President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, caretaker Premier Saad Hariri and Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati will participate in the ceremony that is scheduled to start at 5:00 pm. Cabinet Ministers, MPs, party leaders, diplomats, heads of the country’s different sects and other dignitaries will also attend the event which will be followed by a dinner to be hosted by al-Rahi.

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri held talks Thursday evening at the Center House with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and MP Strida Geagea on “the latest political developments in the country,” the premier’s press office said.

Earlier Thursday Hariri stressed that his political camp was not seeking to “eliminate anyone.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stated that contacts between him and caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri are completely severed, saying that he will not agree to an individual reconciliation with him.

He said in an interview in Al-Afkar magazine that will be published on Friday: “I support Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati and if Hariri believes that Miqati betrayed him, then he should explain his statement or retract it. It is best if he reconsiders his position.”

Caretaker Prime Minister Saad Hariri may postpone his visit to the Bekaa Valley due to prior engagements, according to sources in al-Mustaqbal movement.

Al-Akhbar newspaper on Thursday pointed out that al-Mustaqbal had already prepared for his trip to the Bekaa and had booked Park Hotel in Chtaura for three days.