Speaker Nabih Berri revealed that an agreement had been reached on the majority of the details of the new wage scale, adding that the Mustaqbal bloc did not attend Thursday's legislative session aimed at addressing the pay hike due to its commitment to its allies the Lebanese Forces and Kataeb blocs, reported the daily An Nahar on Friday.

He told his visitors that an agreement had been reached over the most “minute details” of the new wage scale draft-law, revealing that the Syndicate Coordination Committee had voiced reservations over implementing the raise in installments and increasing the Value Added Tax as a way to fund it.

Resolving the dispute over raising the Value Added Tax is among the main obstacles that may hinder the approval of the new wage scale during a legislative session scheduled for Thursday.

Given the lingering differences, the session may not even be attended by the Mustaqbal bloc, which may lead to a lack of quorum at parliament.

The dispute on the wage scale for the public sector has made some breakthrough after talks between the finance minister and al-Mustaqbal bloc's leader but differences between the parliamentary blocs remained on the funding.

An Nahar newspaper said on Wednesday that al-Mustaqbal bloc chief MP Fouad Saniora held talks with the representatives of the March 14 alliance to discuss the pay raise.

Head of the Mustaqbal bloc MP Fouad Saniora demanded on Saturday that the government kick off its duties through adhering to the constitution.

He said during the launch of a workshop in the northern city of Tripoli: “The government must go ahead with its responsibilities and avoid becoming embroiled in endless debates about its functions.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has allegedly accused al-Mustaqbal movement of turning against a deal to attend a parliamentary session on the controversial wage hike, warning that lack of quorum puts the entire political system in danger.

According to several local dailies, Berri said this was “not the first time that the movement was revolting against a positive atmosphere or agreements” aimed at resolving certain crises.

Al-Mustaqbal bloc on Monday announced that it will not take part in “pushing the country towards bankruptcy,” hinting hence that its MPs will boycott a parliamentary session dedicated for voting on the new wage scale draft law scheduled for Tuesday.

Bloc head MP Fouad Saniora explained after an extraordinary meeting at the Center House that the new wage scale draft in its current format has “disastrous” consequences on the state's finances.

The presidential vacuum entered its third week on Monday as a large number of lawmakers failed to attend an electoral session, which met the fate of its predecessors over differences between the rival parties on a compromise candidate.

Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned the session to elect a new president to June 18 after MPs once again did not guarantee the needed two-thirds quorum.

President Michel Suleiman expressed pride and shame at the end of his tenure, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the daily, Suleiman told the employees of the Baabda Palace in a farewell meeting that he was at first ashamed to be elected as a president after the May 7, 2008 incident but now he feels proud for leaving the post in accordance with the democratic norms.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam is scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia on Monday, in his first official visit abroad since the formation of his cabinet in February.

Salam is expected to meet with Saudi King Abdullah and several top Saudi officials.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc urged the March 8 camp to announce its candidate for the presidency so that he competes in the third round of the elections on Wednesday.

The bloc, which held its weekly meeting under MP Fouad Saniora on Tuesday, stressed that it “backed the candidacy of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea in accordance with the agreement (reached) in the March 14 alliance and called on March 8 to announce its candidate to hold competitive elections.”