BEIRUT: The UN Security Council urged Lebanon to speed up the formation of an efficient government, accepted by all political parties to enact badly needed reform and undertake necessary reforms to put the country on the path of recovery, according to a top official of the world body.

The remarks on Thursday by Najat Rochdi, UN special coordinator for Lebanon, came after she virtually briefed Council members on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701, which led to the cessation of hostilities between Lebanon and Israel in 2006, and the current situation in Beirut, reports Xinhua news agency.

The UN Security Council also reiterated its support for Lebanon, its people, its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Rochdi said that the Council welcomed the role played by the Lebanese Armed Forces and security forces in safeguarding the country's sovereignty, security and stability during this very sensitive period, even though they were also impacted by the socio-economic crisis.

The Council's request came a day after Lebanese President Michel Aoun urged Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri to step down if he is not capable of forming a cabinet immediately.

"I ask the Prime Minister-designate to immediately form a cabinet capable of saving Lebanon from further collapse or step down and pave the way for other candidates to form a government," the President said in a televised speech on Wednesday evening.

Hariri was assigned to form a new cabinet in October 2020, but he has failed to do so due to the disagreement over the distribution of key ministerial portfolios among the different factions.

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