Report: Berri Does not Want to Worsen Ties with Aoun

Speaker Nabih Berri has reportedly stressed that he rejects aggravating his relations with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun but he cannot stand idle to attempts to paralyze state institutions.

Berri told Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement officials that he “does not want to cut ties with him (Aoun) or aggravate them. But that we are in a dangerous stage and we can't stand idle to paralysis,” al-Akhbar daily reported Friday.

Berri and several parties accuse the FPM of seeking to paralyze state institutions, mainly the cabinet, by demanding the discussion of the appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.

The cabinet that convened on Thursday following a three-week suspension failed to discuss the issue.

Ad-Diyar newspaper also quoted Berri as saying that Prime Minister Tammam Salam had informed him he would call for another cabinet session and implement the constitution.

Berri's remarks came during a new round of dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal officials which he hosted at his residence in Ain el-Tineh on Thursday.

He later threw an Iftar banquet in their honor.

A statement issued at the end of the talks said that Berri stressed the importance of dialogue to confront strife.

The conferees “reiterated their commitment to this path” and “stressed the importance of taking decisions through the state to consolidate security and stability.”