Speaker Nabih Berri called on the rival Christian parties to reconsider their stance regarding an upcoming parliamentary session to endorse draft-laws.

“I have carried out my duties... we prepared the session's agenda... I am waiting for everyone to reconsider their stances, as I will not contact anyone anymore and will not discuss it,” Berri stressed in comments published in local newspapers on Friday.

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil were on Friday at loggerheads over the Syrian refugee crisis after accusations that the authorities were accepting more displaced Syrians despite a decision not to do so.

Derbas and Bassil briefly argued over the issue during a cabinet session held at the Grand Serail on Thursday after the foreign minister told the government that he had information about the entry of more Syrian refugees to Lebanon.

Speaker Nabih Berri is exerting efforts to convince the rival parliamentary blocs to attend an upcoming parliamentary session that mainly Christian lawmakers oppose amid the absence of a head of state.

The agenda of the session was distributed to lawmakers, An Nahar newspaper reported on Thursday.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that he favors the appointment of new figures in high-ranking military posts if consensus was reached among the political arch-foes, local newspapers reported.

“If we failed to reach an agreement then I favor the extension of the terms of Internal Security Forces chief (Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Basbous) and Army Commander (General Jean Qahwaji),” Berri told his visitors.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil warned on Sunday Lebanese parties from allegiance on foreign powers, considering that it would only destroy the country.

“Any stakes on the outside will not find its way locally... and any party seeking to engage in such an adventure will only attract chaos into Lebanon,” Bassil said as he toured villages in the northern district of Akkar.

The Free Patriotic Movement warned on Wednesday of the ongoing clamping down on the activities of the party, threatening to boycott its political activity or resign from the cabinet.

“If they want to rule without the (Change and Reform) bloc then they have the green light,” sources close to the FPM said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for an immediate halt to “unlawful” military appointments, condemning what it described as attempts to “isolate” the bloc in these designations.

“Their extensions are selective, dangerous and in violation of the defense law and the law regulating the Internal Security Forces,” said the bloc in a statement recited by ex-minister Salim Jreissati after its weekly meeting in Rabieh.

Lebanese Forces media officer Melhem Riachi stressed on Saturday that the party insists on carrying out reconciliation with the Free Patriotic Movement and announce the “declaration of intent.”

He pointed out that prominent officials at the LF don't oppose the reconciliation with the FPM, noting that he is only a mediator tasked by the party chief, Samir Geagea, to follow up the matter.

Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan held talks on Thursday with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea as part of the dialogue between the Free Patriotic Movement and LF and their plan to announce a “declaration of intentions.”

Kanaan said after the meeting: “The declaration is almost complete.”

Lebanese Force leader Samir Geagea slammed on Thursday Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah over his latest speech, describing his party's dialogue with the Free Patriotic Movement as Fruitful.

“Lebanon has no interest in verbally assaulting Saudi Arabia or the Arab coalition,” Geagea said at a press conference held in Maarab.