Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah stressed Tuesday that his party is not seeking to “impose” the proportional representation electoral system on the country, while warning that Lebanon is “on the brink of the abyss” regarding the issue of the electoral law.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday criticized political parties who have rejected a cabinet vote on a new electoral law “although they have accepted to vote for illegitimate extension” in parliament.

Hizbullah deputy chief Sheikh Naim Qassem announced Tuesday that “any resistance not aimed at liberating Palestine from the sea to the river cannot be of use,” a day after the Palestinian movement Hamas unveiled a new policy document easing its stance on Israel after having called for years for its destruction.

Unknown assailants attacked and injured a coffee vendor on Tuesday in the southern city of Sidon, the National News agency reported.

Three unidentified men assaulted the coffee vendor, who was identified with his initials as M.Aa. NNA said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi advised political parties on Tuesday to reach a new voting system for the upcoming parliamentary polls and avoid an extension of the parliament’s term or vacuum at the legislative authority.

“I don't support the 1960 electoral law. I have always reiterated that I support an agreement on a new voting system,” said Rahi before departing to Rome on a visit that will last for a few days.

The Lebanese army tightened security measures on Tuesday in the northeastern border town of Arsal, media reports said.

Speaker Nabih Berri assured that several meetings between various political parties will be held ahead of a cabinet meeting on Thursday to agree on a new electoral law, as he urged Prime Minister Saad Hariri to assume responsibility, the pan-Arab al-Hayat daily reported on Tuesday.

Visitors to Berri quoted the Speaker as saying: “It is certain that many meetings will be held. But more importantly is they be held within the government. Prime Minister Saad Hariri must assume his responsibilities in this regard. In any case there will be no vote (on a new electoral law) in the cabinet. The election law can only be reached in conformity.”

The young man M.N. was critically wounded on Monday in the eastern town of Hermel after he received two gunshots to the chest during a dispute in the town's market, the National News Agency said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday warned that the country will face an economic “abyss” in the absence of reform.

Sheikh Ali Daamoush, the deputy head of Hizbullah's Executive Council, on Monday announced that his party is “open to all choices” regarding the electoral law.