President Michel Suleiman slammed Lebanon's rival parties for failing to agree on a new electoral law, stressing that he would challenge any attempt to extend parliament’s mandate.

In an interview with al-Mustaqbal daily published Friday, Suleiman said: “All the countries surrounding us are suffering from major problems and bloodshed so that the people could have the right to vote.”

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov arrived in Beirut on Thursday on a four-day official visit to hold talks with senior Lebanese officials as part of his regional tour.

The Russian diplomat will hold talks with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati and PM-designate Tammam Salam.

U.N. Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs Jeffrey Feltman has warned that the spillover of Syria's war continues to be felt in Lebanon as the U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Susan Rice slammed Hizbullah for undermining the country's dissociation policy.

“The spillover of the conflict in Syria continues to be felt in Lebanon,” Feltman told the U.N. Security Council during an open debate on the Middle East Wednesday.

President Michel Suleiman called on Wednesday on the Lebanese to abide by the dissociation policy and not to send arms shipments or fighters to the neighboring country Syria.

The president called on different parties not to send “arms shipments and fighters to Syria and not to establish any training bases in Lebanon."

Only ten lawmakers have so far signed a petition that calls for challenging the suspension of deadlines set by the 1960 electoral law, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The daily said that seven National Struggle Front MPs, deputy Speaker Farid Makari and lawmakers Ahmed Karami and Marwan Hamadeh had signed it by Tuesday.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea condemned on Tuesday Hizbullah's fighting in Syria alongside the Syrian regime, accusing the party of violating the Baabda Declaration that calls for Lebanon to distance itself from regional crises.

He said during a press conference: “The government must hold a session to put an immediate stop to Hizbullah's fighting in Syria.

President Michel Suleiman condemned on Tuesday the kidnapping of Syriac Orthodox Archbishop of Aleppo Youhanna Ibrahim and Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Aleppo and Iskanderun Boulos al-Yaziji in Syria on Monday, demanding their immediate release.

He said: “These actions will not achieve democracy or the goals of the perpetrators.”

Political parties have proposed to Premier-Designate Tammam Salam more than 180 names for only a 24-member government, An Nahar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

The number is expected to rise pending a final step by Salam in handing over the portfolios to the right people, An Nahar said.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margolo is due to arrive in Beirut on Tuesday eve for talks with senior Lebanese officials.

The FM will arrive in Lebanon via from Cyprus on the first stop of his regional tour, accompanied by a diplomatic delegation.

Former Syrian Vice President Abdul Halim Khaddam criticized President Michel Suleiman's positions on the Syrian crisis, saying that they are “hostile” towards the Syrian people, said various media reports Monday.

He added in an address to Suleiman: “Several Lebanese and Arab people do not question Suleiman's antagonistic stances against the Syrians and their revolt due to your loyalty to Syrian President Bashar Assad, who played a major role in your appointment as president.”