Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated his adherence to the hybrid draft-law that combines the winner-takes-all and proportional representation systems that has been proposed by MP Ali Bazzi from his Liberation and Development bloc, al-Joumhouria daily said Saturday.

“The hybrid draft-law that I have suggested is the best law. It does not allow anyone to win against another, its a triumph for the country and everyone,” the daily quoted Berri as saying.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel warned on Friday that officials affiliated with the March 14 and 8 coalitions are simultaneously exposed to assassination attempts, pointing out that the ties between Lebanon and the Gulf countries are “not deteriorating.”

“The security agencies are coordinating with the figures who are under threat,” Charbel said in comments published in the Kuwaiti al-Seyassah newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri denied on Friday that he gave rival lawmakers a one-week deadline to reach consensus on an electoral draft-law before putting the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal to vote in parliament.

In remarks to An Nahar newspaper, Berri said: “I haven't spoken about it and I have neither set a week, nor two weeks nor 70 days for the General Assembly” session.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea held on Thursday a series of discussions with his allies in the March 14 opposition alliance in addition to the Maronite patriarch on the controversial electoral draft-law.

Geagea's press office said the LF leader telephoned al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora to discuss with him the vote law and stress the need to exert efforts to reach consensus.

Al-Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat criticized on Thursday Speaker Nabih Berri, accusing him of backing down on his promises to the parliamentary bloc by prompting the joint parliamentary committees to vote on the so-called Orthodox Gathering electoral draft-law.

“I am convinced that Berri's endeavors weren't (innocent), he had plans to push forward the adoption of the proposal,” Fatfat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun backed on Wednesday a decision by Speaker Nabih Berri to allow rival lawmakers to reach consensus on an electoral draft-law but he stuck to his support for the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal.

“If there is no other draft-law that would be just for all sects … then there is no problem in going ahead with the Orthodox Gathering proposal,” Aoun said following talks with Berri in Ain el-Tineh.

Finance Minister Mohammed al-Safadi expressed on Wednesday his disbelief over the Christians' approval of the Orthodox Gathering parliamentary electoral law, saying that these forces that have been leaders in “national partnership and modernity” have been forced to “isolate themselves in a departure from their pioneering role.”

He therefore urged in a statement “President Michel Suleiman and Speaker Nabih Berri, due to their respective Christians and Shiite role, to announce a state of political emergency that would help the Lebanese return to national dialogue.”

Speaker Nabih Berri vowed on Wednesday to keep his centrist position on the differences between lawmakers over which electoral draft-law guarantees the best representation for all the Lebanese.

“The 1960 law is behind us and the Orthodox Gathering proposal in front of us,” he told An Nahar daily. “I will keep myself in the middle until the Lebanese reach consensus.”

The members of the March 14 opposition alliance, who have severely criticized the so-called Orthodox Gathering draft-law, warned again on Wednesday that the country would be shattered if parliament gives it the green light.

In remarks to al-Liwaa daily, March 14 independent Christian MP Butros Harb said he sought to convince Speaker Nabih Berri during a meeting of the joint parliamentary committees to postpone the approval of the proposal's 2nd article.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague is expected to arrive in Lebanon this week on a short visit to meet with senior officials in a tour that includes several countries in the region.

As Safir newspaper reported on Tuesday that Hague will tackle several issues with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Miqati, and his counterpart FM Adnan Mansour.