Consultations are ongoing among Christian leaders ahead of a wide meeting at Bkirki on Friday to discuss the new electoral law and a two-page proposal agreed upon between Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday, the Phalange party, Lebanese Forces party, Marada Movement and the Free Patriotic Movement are discussing the possibility of uniting their stances over the proposal.

Speaker Nabih Berri condemned on Wednesday the attack against the four Dar al-Fatwa sheikhs on Sunday, demanding that the harshest of punishments be laid down against the perpetrators.

He said during his weekly meeting with lawmakers at his Ain el-Tineh residence that no cover will be provided to the thugs who assaulted the clerics.

Minister of Social Affairs Wael Abu Faour urged on Wednesday for quick decisions and procedures regarding the leaderships of the military and security institutions “to guarantee the safety of the Lebanese,” reported the state-run National News Agency.

“There is imminent need to focus on the security institutions and to do that we should focus on the security and military apparatus mainly the Lebanese army and the Internal Security Forces,” said Abu Faour after a meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri at the latter's residence in Ain el-Tineh.

Divisions between cabinet members on several controversial issues are likely to exacerbate on Thursday over the formation of the authority that would supervise the elections, which is rejected by the Hizbullah-led majority.

A cabinet session that is set to be held at Baabda palace could either witness a last minute deal to form the authority or March 8 majority ministers could vote against it if President Michel Suleiman insisted on putting it up to vote.

Lebanese Forces leader MP Samir Geagea lashed out on Wednesday at the cabinet for its failure to carry out its tasks, revealing that the March 14 hybrid electoral law is almost ready.

“The resignation of the cabinet and the electoral law are our priorities,”' Geagea said in an interview with al-Akhbar newspaper.

The March 14 alliance is seeking signatures on a parliamentary petition to urge Speaker Nabih Berri to call for an urgent session to discuss and approve a draft-law that extends the retirement age of officers in leadership posts in security agencies amid a strong opposition by the Free Patriotic movement.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Wednesday, the opposition is pressing the extension of Internal Security Forces chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi and Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji to safeguard the country.

A meeting held between Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati reached a breakthrough over the controversial electoral law, which will be technically postponed according to a two-page plan.

Al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Tuesday that the two-page document, which was agreed upon between the three officials, states that political foes should consent on a hybrid electoral law that divides the parliamentary seats equally based on winner-takes-all and proportional systems or 60 percent of MPs be elected through the winner-takes-all and 40 according to the proportional system.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati on Monday announced reaching a “complete plan” to resolve the dispute over the electoral law but declined to reveal its details.

MTV quoted Miqati as saying that his discussions in Rome with Speaker Nabih Berri and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi “focused on the means to spare Lebanon any constitutional vacuum.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi discussed on Sunday with Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Najib Miqati in Rome the controversial electoral law.

Berri was quoted as saying after the meeting that he will agree on any electoral law that has the consensus of the rival March 14 and 8 alliances.

Al-Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat revealed on Sunday that talks will resume with the Progressive Socialist Party later in the day over a hybrid electoral law.

“We will resume discussions on Sunday although Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement reject the adoption of such a law, which threatens the polls,” Fatfat said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.