Speaker Nabih Berri expressed concern on Saturday over the ongoing attempts by terrorists to overrun towns in the Eastern Mountain Range and to cause chaos in the northern port city of Tripoli.

“If the Lebanese remain united, then they (terrorists) will not be able to achieve much,” Berri said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri described on Friday the controversial presidential elections as “complicated,” calling on the political arch-foes to agree on a consensual candidate.

“The presidential poll is complex as it involves two elements, the first is the local obstacles and the second is linked to the U.S.-Iranian and Iranian-Saudi dialogues,” Berri's visitors quoted him as saying.

The parliament failed again Thursday to elect a successor to former President Michel Suleiman, leaving the country's top Christian post vacant since May.

Speaker Nabih Berri has set a new session for October 29.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, expressed grave concern over the activities of al-Qaida-affiliated al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in the mountainous areas surrounding the northeastern border town of Arsal.

The U.N. official warned of the tremendous impact of such acts on Lebanon's stability and security, in particular, Hizbullah's and other Lebanese groups involvement in the battles ongoing in the neighboring country Syria.

Speaker Nabih Berri refused on Wednesday staging of parliamentary elections, if it was boycotted by a key party.

“I support the staging of parliamentary elections but reject carrying it out if a key party boycotted it,” Berri said during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at Ain el-Tineh.

Kataeb Party Leader Amin Gemayel stressed that coordination is ongoing with his party's key March 14 ally al-Mustaqbal Movement, revealing that priority at this stage is to safeguard Lebanon from the repercussions of the dramatic developments in the region.

“I agreed with head of al-Mustaqbal movement MP Saad Hariri on the importance of staging the presidential elections swiftly,” Gemayel told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Tuesday.

Several scenarios are currently being discussed to carry out the extension of the parliament's mandate, which became a de-facto choice amid the ongoing presidential impasse and the deep rift among the political arch-foes.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Thursday, several parliamentary blocs are discussing three options to extend the tenure of the parliament.

The International Support Group for Lebanon has condemned the hostage taking of Lebanese troops and policemen by jihadists in the northeastern border town of Arsal and reiterated a pledge to strengthen the Lebanese army to confront terrorists.

Participants in the meeting of the Group that was held in New York on Friday said that “the recent attacks by violent extremist groups in Arsal had highlighted immediate priority needs on the part of both the LAF (Lebanese Armed Forces) and the security forces, including in regard to border control and counter-terrorism.”

Speaker Nabih Berri expected a parliamentary session scheduled to be held on Tuesday to meet the fate of its predecessors and fail in electing a new president.

“No progress has been made so far on an agreement to elect a new head of state,” said Berri in remarks published in al-Joumhouria daily on Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri was on Sunday optimistic that the rival March 8 and 14 alliances would attend a legislative session to approve pending issues.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Berri said: “There is a positive atmosphere.”