Berri says 'no war' looming, agrees to 'experts' in negotiations if needed

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has said that there will be no war on Lebanon, sarcastically adding that the war has not stopped in the first place to restart.

"Has Israel stopped its war on Lebanon?" He asked al-Joumhouria newspaper, in remarks published Thursday.

Berri said the fears of escalation in Lebanon were only caused by recent statements by U.S. envoy Tom Barrak, in which he warned of a "major confrontation" between Israel and Hezbollah if Beirut does not take serious steps to disarm the group.

As President Joseph Aoun repeatedly called for negotiations with Israel to end the occupation and stop attacks on Lebanon, Hezbollah rejected Thursday any "political negotiations."

The U.S. had reportedly proposed to involve Lebanese and Israeli civilians in indirect negotiations between Lebanon and Israel through the ceasefire monitoring committee. The civilians would be high-level officials such as ministers or diplomatic representatives of Lebanon and Israel.

Berri said it would only be acceptable to include "experts" when there is need for them and that negotiations would be indirect through the ceasefire monitoring committee.