Speaker Nabih Berri demanded on Tuesday that the investigation into alleged Lebanese meddling in Syrian affairs should be conducted in a legal framework.

He said during a ceremony commemorating poet Najib Jamaledddine: ““All Lebanese should be keener on Syria’s security and stability than the Syrians themselves.”

Several lawmakers have prepared a detailed report on illegal constructions on state property that stresses the wave intensified a month ago, hinting that it was backed by some political parties, An Nahar daily said Tuesday.

The report according to An Nahar also stresses that illegal construction was “intentional” and some parties had “incited” violators into more “disobedience.”

President Michel Suleiman denied on Sunday that there were foreign obstacles to the cabinet formation process, saying the deadlock was over local “demands.”

“There are no foreign pitfalls,” Suleiman told reporters in Bkirki after meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi. The impasse lies on the “demands of parliamentary blocs” and “not obstacles,” he said.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat has expressed pessimism over the formation of the new cabinet after the Easter holidays saying there is still disagreement on the interior ministry portfolio.

The lawmaker told An Nahar newspaper in remarks published Friday that “the cabinet formation process is still at a standstill and there’s still disagreement on who will be given the interior ministry portfolio.”

House Speaker Nabih Berri called on Wednesday for a meeting for the joint parliamentary committees to be held on April 28 in order to discuss various projects that have been presented to them, reported MPs who attended the weekly Wednesday meeting.

They also reported that the Speaker seemed more optimistic regarding the formation of the new government, saying that Berri expects it to be formed after the Easter holiday.

The March 14 General Secretariat condemned on Wednesday the Syria’s accusations that the Mustaqbal movement is meddling in Syria’s internal affairs.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “Hizbullah has taken advantage of the Syrian campaign to attack the movement and accuse it of Syria’s fabricated accusations in order to settle scores with the March 14 forces after its repeated demands that the party be disarmed.”

Premier-designate Najib Miqati held talks with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda Palace on Wednesday but not did make any statement after the meeting.

Media reports said Miqati discussed with Suleiman the cabinet formation efforts. The talks came amid a continued impasse on the new government due to several obstacles, mainly Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun’s bickering with Suleiman over the interior ministry portfolio.

Speaker Nabih Berri said after meeting with President Michel Suleiman at Baabda palace on Wednesday that the cabinet formation “gift” on the occasion of the holidays “is on its way but would arrive after Easter.”

Berri also held talks with Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati on Tuesday night.

Mustaqbal MP Ahmed Fatfat criticized House Speaker Nabih Berri’s handling of the case of Syria’s accusation against MP Jamal Jarrah of funding a terrorist cell seeking to destabilize the Arab state.

He told al-Mustaqbal newspaper in remarks published on Tuesday: “An accusation was directed against a member of parliament and his refusal to respond to the allegations means that he is allowing Jarrah’s blood to be spilled.”

Speaker Nabih Berri stated that the government formation in Lebanon is moving at “turtle pace”, noting however that Prime Minister-designate Najib Miqati’s recent statements from Baabda are a positive sign that it will be established soon.

He told the daily An Nahar in remarks published on Sunday: “We hope the new government will live up to the Lebanese people’s expectations.”