Report: March 8 to Resume Talks after Failure to Reach Consensus

Sharp differences loomed to the surface among the March 8 coalition's members over the thorny crises confronting the country as the main factions of the coalition are expected to hold talks on Wednesday to resolve the disputes.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Tuesday, March 8 Christians and Hizbullah representatives failed during a meeting they held the day before to reach common ground on the nature of the new cabinet and the new electoral law.

The meeting was held between Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh, Tashnag Party MP Hagop Pakradonian, political aide of the Hizbullah chief Hussein Khalil and Hizbullah Liaison and Coordination Officer Wafiq Safa in the absence of AMAL movement-led by Speaker Nabih Berri.

Later, Franjieh, Saade, Safa and Khalil headed to Ain el-Tineh for talks with Berri but no statements were made after the meeting.

An Nahar reported that the meeting revealed the deep rift between Berri and Aoun as Hizbullah failed to bridge the gap between the two politicians.

The daily pointed out that Aoun clarified to his allies during Monday's meeting in Rabieh that he totally rejects the extension of the current parliament's tenure, stressing the importance of holding a parliamentary session to vote on the so-called Orthodox Gathering electoral draft-law.

Aoun is holding on to the Orthodox proposal as the only alternative to the 1960 law.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that the March 8 parties will hold talks in Ain el-Tineh on Wednesday to resolve the lingering disputes.

The talks come ahead of the April 5-6 binding consultations between President Michel Suleiman and the parliamentary blocs and independents on the name of the PM-designate after Prime Minister Najib Miqati resigned on March 22.

His resignation further complicated the political crisis in Lebanon after signs began appearing that the Hizbullah-led March 8 forces are seeking a national salvation cabinet while the March 14 opposition alliance wants a neutral government.

However, An Nahar said that the March 8 coalition is seeking to postpone the date of the binding consultations.