“Today, I announce the resignation of the cabinet in the hope it will open the way for a solution to the major political blocs to take responsibility and come together to bring Lebanon out of the unknown,” Mikati said at a news conference at the Grand Serail on Friday evening.

Mikati’s resignation came hours after President Michel Sleiman had adjourned the cabinet session, a move that was triggered by a sharp political rift between Ministers over the formation of an elections supervision committee, as well as some minister’s utter refusal to even discuss the extension of ISF chief, Ashraf Rifi’s mandate.

Major General Ashraf Rifi, head of Lebanon’s internal security forces, is due to retire early next month. Rifi, like Mikati, is a Sunni Muslim from Tripoli, and is distrusted by Hezbollah.

In his resignation address to the Lebanese, Mikati said the country’s mounting political crisis could only be resolved via National Dialogue.

“There is no salvation for Lebanon except through dialogue that can pave the way for the formation of a salvation government,” the outgoing Prime Minister said.

He went on to recount the times when he had previously contemplated resignation.

“I decided to resign twice during my mandate. Once over the conflict-ridden issue of funding Lebanon’s dues toward the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and the other was following the assassination of Information Branch Chief Brig. Gen. Wissam Hasan,” Mikati said, hoping his third and final resignation would get both sides of the Lebanese political divide to share equal responsibility seeking means to salvage the nation.

Mikati formed his 30-member cabinet on June 13, 2011, months after the collapse of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri’s government and in the wake of the uprising in Syria.

“I know there is public concern about the manifestations of insecurity that have been seen over the past two weeks,” Mr. Plumbly told reporters in Beirut after meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. “But I believe they have also alerted all of us to the need to work together to sustain calm and stability in Lebanon at this time of turbulence in the region.”

Mr. Plumbly had on Monday voiced concern over recent violent incidents that led to loss of life in Lebanon. According to media reports, the violence was related to the unrest in neighbouring Syria, with clashes between sympathizers and opponents of the different parties to the conflict there.

A protest movement – similar to those across the Middle East and North Africa – has claimed over 9,000 lives in Syria, mostly civilians, and displaced tens of thousands since it began in March 2011; and has led to the deployment of UN observers.

“I told the Prime Minister that the United Nations supports all steps aimed at safeguarding Lebanon’s stability and security and the wellbeing of its citizens,” Mr. Plumbly said in his comments.

“I relayed the same message to President [Michel] Sleiman when I met him yesterday,” he added. “In this context, we warmly welcome the President’s determination to revive dialogue in Lebanon at a time when such dialogue and communication is obviously a necessity.”

The Special Coordinator also voiced concern, on behalf of the United Nations, over the abduction of 11 Lebanese pilgrims in Syria earlier this week, and expressed the hope that they will be returned to their families as soon as possible.