Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that exerted efforts that aim at fortifying the military institution are required, pointing out that he agrees with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on the general principles only.

“Every measure we take that helps safeguard the army and fortify its task in maintaining the country's stability and security is a necessary step that should be fully supported,” Berri told al-Joumhouria newspaper on the 68th Army Day.

Speaker Nabih Berri has snapped back at al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc which accused him of encouraging “unacceptable” practices by insisting on keeping the agenda of the national assembly intact.

“Everyone should know that the parliament is the top institution and gives legitimacy to governments,” Berri said in remarks published in several newspapers on Wednesday.

Caretaker Defense Minister Fayez Ghosn issued on Wednesday an administrative decision to extend the mandate of Army chief General Jean Qahwaji for two years after the parliament failed to take such a move.

The decision calls for postponing for two years Qahwaji's retirement and that of Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Walid Salman, which expires on August 7.

Hizbullah had urged former Prime Minister Saad Hariri to return to Lebanon through diplomatic channels, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper Hariri had received several calls to return to the country, not only from Speaker Nabih Berri, but from Hizbullah also.

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed Monday's a parliamentary session for the third consecutive time over lack of quorum.

Several parliamentary blocks boycotted the parliamentary session over a dispute with Berri over the session's agenda, which included 45 articles.

Speaker Nabih Berri warned on Monday that he would not allow any party or official to either decide what role the parliament would play or to obstruct its functions.

“The parliament is the top institution and it is not allowed and I don't accept for anyone to set its role or paralyze it,” Berri said in remarks to several newspapers.

Speaker Nabih Berri urged on Tuesday the European Union to retract its decision against Hizbullah, saying it underestimates justice and serves Israel.

“The EU should back off from its decision and the measures that without any doubt would target all the Lebanese and their interests in Europe,” Berri, who is also the head of the Amal movement that is allied with Hizbullah, said in a statement.

Al-Mustaqbal movement voiced support to a decision to extend the mandate of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji by at least one year, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Tuesday.

According to the newspaper, the decision came in light of a series of meetings held between former Prime Minister Saad Hariri and senior officials in al-Mustaqbal movement.

Speaker Nabih Berri urged former Prime Minister and the head of Mustaqbal movement Saad Hariri to return to Lebanon, pointing out that he is ready to reconsider Hariri's reappointment as a premier.

“Hariri must return to Lebanon to facilitate the resumption of the dialogue so that we cooperate to face the current challenges,” Berri said in comments published in local newspapers on Monday.

Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun has denied that he had differences with Hizbullah and confirmed that he had lately held talks with the party leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

“We haven't disagreed,” Aoun told An Nahar newspaper published on Sunday. “There were some thorny issues linked to internal affairs … that we resolved.”