Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Monday described the rare double veto used by Russia and China to block a resolution condemning Syria as a “slap in the face of the Syrian people,” urging the Lebanese state to “aid the Syrian refugees” instead of staging “airborne military parades in the northern border areas.”

In his weekly column in al-Anbaa newspaper, his party’s mouthpiece, Jumblat said the vetos “destroyed what’s left of the Arab League’s initiative which tried to find a political solution to the crisis in Syria.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated that the March 14-led opposition is capable of toppling the government through popular protests.

He added however: “The current circumstances are not suitable for such an action.”

Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblat said Thursday that the fall of the Syrian regime will not result in Hizbollah handing over their weapons, and insisted on the adoption of a “political solution” in Syria rejecting a military intervention.

“It is crazy to bet that the fall of the Syrian regime will result in Hizbullah handing over its weapons,” he said during a talk show on LBC.

President Michel Suleiman and Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, who are among the centrist forces in the government, have chided Energy Minister Jebran Bassil for accusations made by the Free Patriotic Movement of corruption and embezzlement.

During a heated cabinet session held at Baabda palace on Tuesday, Bassil reiterated his claims that technical, financial and administrative obstacles were preventing the implementation of his project aimed at resolving the electricity crisis in the country and hinted that Suleiman was obstructing the appointment of a new board of directors for the state-run power company, Electricite du Liban.

Premier Najib Miqati and Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour, who is loyal to Progressive Socialist Party chief Walid Jumblat, have rejected accusations that they were hindering the implementation of vital projects.

In remarks to As Safir daily, sources close to Miqati said: “It is absolutely rejected to accuse the cabinet of hindering projects.”

The cabinet is scheduled to discuss the electricity crisis on Tuesday as ministers are expected to clash after growing discontent with severe rationing and accusations by Energy Minister Jebran Bassil and the Free Patriotic Movement that certain parties were putting sticks in the wheels of his electricity plan.

Snapping back at his critics that he is moody, Bassil told As Safir: “Moodiness is a trademark for others given that we are known for holding onto our stances and not changing them in accordance with the circumstances.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat condemned on Monday the “base” political and media rhetoric being adopted by some officials in the country, noting that they have gone so low as to attack the country’s martyrs.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “All political sides should exercise some humility and return to the national dialogue, which is the only way to protect Lebanon in this critical stage.”

News about the alleged assassination attempt of the head of the Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch, Col. Wissam al-Hassan, revealed that Speaker Nabih Berri and Progressive Socialist Party MP Walid Jumblat might also be targeted, according to newspapers published on Monday.

An Nahar daily reported that security agencies urged Berri and Jumblat to take precautions as they move from and into their residences in Ain al-Tineh and Clemenceau.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat stressed on Thursday the importance of reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis, adding that the Arab League deal is the only solution available, reported the Russian news agency Novosti.

“I discussed importance of a political solution according to the Arab League plan”, Jumblat said to LBC television later Thursday night, adding that “ I know that we have entered into violence and counter violence in Syria, But Russia has to condemn the Syrian regime for the violence because it was the initiator.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Wednesday left for the Russian capital Moscow aboard a private plane, state-run National News Agency reported.

The agency did not elaborate any further.