Christian opposition leader Michel Aoun on Thursday reportedly rejected an offer of cabinet seats from Prime Minister-designate Fouad Saniora.

The pro-opposition Al Akhbar daily, which carried the report, said Aoun rejected Saniora's offer that would have allowed the Free Patriotic Movement leader to make his way to the energy and public works ministries instead of telecommunications.

It quoted an FPM source, however, as saying that the final stance will be announced on Thursday.

Sources following up the cabinet line-up issue also told Al Akhbar that the FPM leadership held an overnight meeting to mull the previous offer by Saniora which gives members of Aoun's Reform and Change parliamentary bloc the telecommunications and social affairs seats instead of the energy portfolio.

Other newspapers, like the leading daily An Nahar, also said despite the positive atmosphere that emerged following a visit by FPM official Gebran Bassil to the Grand Serail on Wednesday, a gloomy mood was soon set for the new cabinet.

It said that following Bassil's meeting with Saniora, optimism was high regarding the imminent birth of the new government.

But sources late Wednesday played down hopes of a breakthrough in the cabinet crisis, An Nahar reported.

It quoted the sources as saying that new ideas were discussed at the meeting between Saniora and Bassil. They said, however, that by midnight no response was made from Aoun.

Meanwhile, the pan-Arab daily Al Hayat, citing well-informed sources, said Bassil has insisted that the FPM be given the telecommunications and public works portfolios plus the deputy premier post and demanded that his ally MP Elie Skaff gets the industry and agriculture ministries instead of public affairs as offered by Saniora.