Speaker Nabih Berri hailed on Monday the expected deployment of security forces in the southern suburbs of Beirut, pointing out that the AMAL movement and Hizbullah will cooperate.

“We believe in legitimacy of state,” Berri said in comments to local newspapers.

A 24-member cabinet line-up was set to be announced before President Michel Suleiman's trip to New York on Sunday but several obstacles prevented the formation of the new cabinet, As Safir daily reported.

According to the newspaper published Saturday, Premier-designate Tammam Salam proposed to give eight ministers to the March 8 alliance – four Shiites and four Christians.

The parliament is expected to hold another session on Monday despite being boycotted previously four times by the several parliamentary blocs over it's agenda.

Speaker Nabih Berri has called on the parliament to convene on September 23 at 10.30 a.m. without changing the agenda of the session.

Speaker Nabih Berri said Friday he will start making contacts to assess the results of the meetings that the members of his parliamentary bloc held with top officials to explain to them his initiative aimed at ending the country's political crisis.

In remarks to al-Joumhouria newspaper published Friday, Berri expressed relief that the “absolute majority of the political forces that the committee has met with has backed the initiative and the return to the (national) dialogue table.”

Prime Minister-designate Tammam Salam has criticized the initiative of Speaker Nabih Berri, saying the government can’t be formed through only a several-day national dialogue conclave.

“The only natural place for the formation of the government comes through the support of the PM-designate,” Salam told al-Akhbar newspaper in remarks published on Friday.

Speaker Nabih Berri's call for dialogue was welcomed Thursday by the Syrian Social National Party and MP Michel al-Murr, as the SSNP noted that “the issue of implementing the Baabda Declaration needs a real debate and a real interpretation.”

“Dialogue is a permanent national need, especially in a country witnessing dilemmas and crises,” SSNP's leadership said in a statement, after Berri's envoys met party chief MP Asaad Hardan.

The Tashnag party announced on Wednesday its support for dialogue among the country's rival leaders without any preconditions, lauding an initiative launched by Speaker Nabih Berri.

Berri's roadmap is “positive like any other dialogue initiative” launched by him, Tashnag MP Hagop Pakradounian said after members of the speaker's parliamentary bloc visited the Tashnag headquarters.

Speaker Nabih Berri said Wednesday the preliminary assessment of the meetings that members of his parliamentary bloc held with the country's top officials on his roadmap to resolve the political crisis was “encouraging.”

His stance came during his weekly meeting with MPs. “The initiative has received a major support from several parties,” he said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Tuesday that Speaker Nabih Berri's proposal to hold national dialogue sessions is “not helpful” and that it will not be beneficial.

"I thank the speaker on coming forward with his initiative although I don't think it will be beneficial,” Geagea said after meeting with a delegation of Berri's Liberation and Development bloc.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat MP said Tuesday he agreed with Speaker Nabih Berri on the need for national dialogue to resolve the country's political crisis.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) after meeting with a delegation from Berri's parliamentary bloc at his residence in Clemenceau, Jumblat said he agreed with Berri on “the concept of dialogue,” adding he “insisted on it.”