Consultations are ongoing among the Lebanese foes to reach an agreement on a new electoral law that would govern the upcoming parliamentary elections as officials opposing the adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law are insisting on their stance.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Wednesday, Speaker Nabih Berri is expected to hold talks later in the day with a delegation from Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat's National Struggle Front.

Speaker Nabih Berri considered on Wednesday that the security situation in the country is “intolerable,” lashing out at the security forces for failing to protect the Lebanese.

“If the security and military forces are incapable of safeguarding the Lebanese then why are we paying them their salaries? Every Lebanese then would protect himself,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Envoys of President Michel Suleiman and Prime Minister Najib Miqati are expected to present to various political factions a new version of the hybrid electoral draft law, reported the daily An Nahar Tuesday.

It said that Suleiman's envoy, former Minister Khalil al-Hrawi, and Miqati's envoy, Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas, are set to hold discussions with the factions on a law that sees the election of 68 MPs based on the winner-takes-all system and 60 based on the proportional representation system.

Speaker Nabih Berri defended his parliamentary electoral law proposal, saying he is willing to assume the responsibility of its consequences, reported As Safir newspaper Tuesday.

He told the daily: “I proposed the hybrid draft law, the outcomes of which are unknown and based on constructive vagueness.”

A delegation of March 14 independent Christian lawmakers and officials discussed with Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday a proposal to divide Lebanon into a single district based on a hybrid system, said MP Butros Harb.

The delegation led by Harb visited Berri in Ain el-Tineh to discuss with him some new ideas following the controversial adoption of the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal by the joint parliamentary committees last week.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat warned on Monday that lack of consensus on an electoral draft-law would lead the country to destruction.

In remarks to As Safir newspaper, Jumblat said consensus is necessary more than any other time, adding time has not run out yet.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that he will not call for a parliamentary session without previous consensus among the rival parties on the new electoral law.

“I run the sessions, I am one of the main elements of the national pact and I evaluate the interest of the country before I take any decision,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Sunday accused Hizbullah of receiving orders from Iran to send fighters to Syria.

In an interview on Al-Jazeera, Jumblat also said “the Lebanese government has failed in implementing the self-dissociation policy, which prompted March 14 parties to fight on the side of the Syrian people."

Lebanese Democratic Party leader Talal Arslan praised on Saturday Speaker Nabih Berri's efforts to resolve the sharp differences between the rival parties over the new electoral law, describing him as the country's “safety valve.”

“Despite the differences among the Lebanese, Berri is an important national guarantee that all sides should gather around to overcome the delicate stage with minimum losses,” Arslan said after holding talks with Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati slammed on Saturday the Orthodox Gathering electoral draft law, stressing that the proposal will not be adopted as it violates the “essence of Lebanon's existence and mutual coexistence.”

“We must achieve real representation for all Lebanese sects through reaching an agreement on an electoral law that does not harm coexistence,” Miqati said via twitter.