The Constitutional Council rejected on Friday an appeal filed by the Free Patriotic Movement against the extension of parliament's term.

It said that the rejection was aimed at avoiding prolonging vacuum at constitutional institutions.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that both Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement agreed not to have preconditions on their expected dialogue on the crises gripping the country.

“This issue has been settled and is now behind us,” local dailies published on Monday quoted Berri as saying.

The Constitutional Council held a meeting on Friday to discuss the appeal of the Free Patriotic Movement MPs against the law that extended the term of parliament until June 2017.

No decision was taken following the talks.

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel expressed concern on Thursday over the “dangerous situation” imposed by the vacuum at the Baabda Palace, calling on the Lebanese arch-foes, in particular those behind the obstruction of the presidential elections, to assume their responsibilities.

“Lebanese factions shouldn't under any circumstances obstruct a national, legal, constitutional and political path,” Gemayel said in a lengthy interview with the Kuwaiti al-Rai newspaper. “It is an unforgivable sin.”

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc on Tuesday noted that interpreting Article 24 of the Constitution would clearly define the stipulations of equal power-sharing between Christians and Muslims in state institutions.

“The interpretation of Article 24 of the Constitution can lead to passing an electoral law that respects the rules of equal power-sharing and truly reflects the will of the popular components,” the bloc said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

Speaker Nabih Berri has avoided a disagreement with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun over his stance from the extension of parliament's mandate but said that the lawmaker has a valuable opinion on a consensual presidential candidate.

As Safir daily on Tuesday quoted Berri as saying that Aoun is an “added value to the joint strategic choices.”

A parliamentary committee tasked with discussing the country's new electoral law kicked off on Monday its first session with an agreement to wrap up the matter within a month.

“If the electoral committee didn't reach an agreement within a month, then Speaker Nabih Berri will propose on the parliament to deliberate on all draft-laws,” MP Robert Ghanem, who is affiliated to the March 14 alliance, told reporters in Ain el-Tineh after the meeting.

Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat have said they are exerting efforts to launch dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement.

Local dailies published on Monday quoted Berri as saying that he and Jumblat were seeking to open channels of dialogue between the rival parties.

The March 14 alliance rejects to engage in any dialogue with Hizbullah ahead of the election of a new president, the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa newspaper reported on Sunday.

Sources close to the coalition called on Hizbullah to take positive stances that would encourage all political sides to resume dialogue.

Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel insists on boycotting parliamentary sessions until lawmakers elect a new head of state, holding local parties responsible for the ongoing vacuum at the Baabda Palace and undermining the foreign factor.

“Each side considers itself right,” Gemayel said in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper on Friday.