Speaker Nabih Berri has called for a national salvation government in which parties from across the political spectrum would take part.

“A national salvation cabinet in which everyone takes part without exception should assume its national responsibilities in confronting fateful challenges,” Berri told As Safir daily in remarks published Tuesday.

Speaker Nabih Berri welcomed Caretaker Premier Saad Hariri’s speech and lauded the Mustaqbal movement leader’s decision to abide by the constitution and accept democratic results.

However, in remarks to An Nahar and As Safir dailies on Friday, Berri wondered why the March 14 forces severely criticized the March 8 alliance’s “constitutional” decision to resign from the government.

U.S. Ambassador Maura Connelly's visit to MP Nicolas Fattoush in Zahle stirred criticism and accusations by March 8 forces of U.S. meddling in Lebanon's internal affairs on the eve of parliamentary consultations to name a new premier.

"They say there is no U.S. interference in the affairs of Lebanon and the region. On the contrary, they are interfering in everything from southern Sudan all the way to Zahle," Speaker Nabih Berri told An Nahar daily in remarks published Monday.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Thursday announced that consultations on appointing a new prime minister would begin on Monday, following the collapse of the national unity government.

"Consultations with parliamentarians will begin Monday at 12:00 p.m.," Berri said after talks with President Michel Suleiman at the Baabda Palace, adding that "the meeting was very good."

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed that January will be decisive in solving the Lebanese crisis and said Premier Saad Hariri had a positive attitude on the Saudi-Syrian initiative.

Berri discussed with Hariri during a telephone conversation on Thursday efforts by Damascus and Riyadh to resolve the deadlock.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri will reportedly consider turning the tables if a solution to the crisis over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon was not reached before the end of January.

Berri sources told pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat in remarks published Thursday that the Speaker was seeking to fill in on lost time through revitalization of weekly parliamentary sessions.

Speaker Nabih Berri lamented that the Saudi-Syrian initiative had entered a "recovery stage" as Saudi King Abdullah was convalescing following his back surgery in New York.

Abdullah's illness reflected negatively on the initiative because the king along with Syrian President Bashar Assad is its primary sponsor, Berri reportedly told his visitors on Monday night.

Speaker Nabih Berri described the country's political situation as "worn-out" but said January will be decisive on the crisis over the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

"January is the month of decisiveness on the crisis over the international tribunal," Berri told An Nahar and As Safir newspapers in remarks published Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri said Lebanon should immediately issue decrees for the implementation of the oil law adopted by parliament and pressure the U.N. to delineate the country's sea borders with Israel.

Berri made his remark to As Safir newspaper on Thursday after the largest reserve of natural gas, over 16 trillion cubic feet, was discovered off the coast of Israel.

Speaker Nabih Berri said Saudi King Abdullah's back surgery in New York delayed a solution to the Lebanese crisis but did not obstruct the formulation of a settlement.

Berri made his remark to Ad-Diyar newspaper in remarks published Wednesday.