Speaker Nabih Berri has revealed that he would not vote for Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun for considering him and the parliament illegitimate over the extension of its term last year.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Monday, Berri expressed surprise at Aoun's continued insistence to consider the parliament illegitimate while at the same time expecting it to elect him as president.

Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated that the government of Prime Minister Tammam Salam is a red line, urging Lebanon's rival officials not to wait for the Iran nuclear deal to resolve the country's crises.

“Bringing down the cabinet means abolishing the country. This cannot take place,” Berri told his visitors, according to al-Joumhouria daily published on Friday.

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat has allegedly expressed readiness to accept the dumping of around 2,000 tons out of 2,500 tons of waste in Dahr al-Baydar in return for stashing the rest of the garbage in the districts of Metn and Kesrouan.

Al-Akhbar daily said Thursday that 3,000 tons of waste are collected from Beirut, its suburbs, and the districts of Shouf, Aley, Baabda, Kesrouan and Metn daily. Sukleen treats around 500 tons while the rest are dumped in landfills.

Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri has said he informed Prime Minister Tammam Salam that Riyadh is keen on Lebanon's constitutional institutions after reports that the PM was mulling to resign.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria daily published Wednesday, Asiri said: “I stressed to him (Salam) that the Kingdom is keen on the continued functioning of state institutions, chiefly the premiership.”

Prime Minister Tammam Salam postponed a cabinet session that was set to take place on Tuesday to pave way for more consultations and to avoid a further confrontation on its controversial decision-making mechanism.

A statement issued by the premiership said Salam set Thursday as a new date for the cabinet to convene.

Hizbullah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah has sent an envoy to inform Prime Minister Tammam Salam that the party is keen on the cabinet and to distance itself from recent riots caused by the waste crisis near his residence in Beirut, sources said Tuesday.

The ministerial sources told al-Mustaqbal daily that a Hizbullah minister visited Salam in Msaitbeh, carrying with him a “personal message” from Nasrallah in which he stressed “the party's keenness on the PM and his role.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated that the solution to Lebanon's presidential deadlock should come through settlements made by major powers following the Iran nuclear deal.

“I am becoming more convinced that the Lebanese solution would be the result of settlements abroad by bridging differences" between different countries, Berri told al-Joumhouria daily published on Friday.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam reiterated that Lebanese lawmakers should elect a neutral president to avoid a power grab by either the March 8 or 14 alliances.

Salam told BBC television in Arabic on Wednesday that there are several candidates who have popular representation, parliamentary blocs and parties.

Speaker Nabih Berri has expressed regret that Lebanese officials failed to resolve the presidential crisis without the mediation of countries that have influence on Lebanon.

“We the Lebanese are useless,” Berri told al-Mustaqbal daily in remarks published on Thursday.

Change and Reform bloc MP Alain Aoun confirmed on Thursday a Hizbullah initiative to bridge the gap between Speaker Nabih Berri and Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun.

Aoun told An Nahar daily that Hizbullah's attempt to end the rift between Berri and the FPM chief is aimed at limiting tension and discussing the speaker's call for opening an extraordinary legislative session.