Rival lawmakers from the March 8 and 14 alliances met for the second day in a row on Wednesday to agree on an electoral draft-law ahead of this year's parliamentary elections.

The MPs, members of a parliamentary subcommittee headed by Robert Ghanem, held two rounds of talks on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati urged on Wednesday the judiciary to swiftly issue the indictment in the case of former Minister Michel Samaha, who is accused along with two Syrian officials of forming a criminal gang aimed at carrying out attacks in Lebanon at Syria's behest.

General Prosecutor Judge Hatem Madi briefed Miqati on the jurisdiction work concerning several cases during a meeting at the Grand Serail.

A storm that has been lashing Lebanon since the weekend dropped snow on the coast in northern areas, blocked major mountainous roads and forced the closure of schools for a third day as the worst is yet to come.

The National News Agency said Wednesday that the snow reached the coast in the northern town of Batroun. It also reached 400 meters above sea level in the northern Akkar district.

Transportation and Public Works Minister Ghazi al-Aridi considered on Wednesday that the damage caused by the storm is “under control,” blaming the chaos across Lebanon to the “shortage in capacities” and growth in negligence.

“In comparison with the strength of the storm, we were able to control the damage... We have mobilized all the available capabilities to open the blocked roads and facilitate traffic,” Aridi said in comments to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3).

Hizbullah has been training Syrians from the Shiite sect in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley to defend themselves against the rebel Free Syrian Army, sources told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Wednesday.

The Syrian Shiite sources said around 1,500 men are receiving salaries and being trained in the Bekaa camps to fight in Syria and defend Shiite villages and towns against the rebels.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat described his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri as “excellent,” saying he is convinced that dialogue and abiding by the Taef accord are the only solutions to end the political deadlock in the country.

“It is necessary to periodically meet with Berri and discuss with him all the developments,” Jumblat said in comments to As Safir newspaper on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed reservations on Wednesday on the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, saying MPs should agree on an electoral draft-law that guarantees a just representation.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Miqati stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on “a draft-law that guarantees the fair representation of all sects and factions.”

President Michel Suleiman stated on Tuesday his rejection of adopting the Orthodox Gathering's proposed law in the upcoming parliamentary elections, describing it as “unconstitutional”.

"We encourage the electoral subcommittee to discuss the proportional representation law,” Suleiman said in an interview with the Progressive Socialist Party-affiliated newspaper al-Anbaa, adding that this so-called Butros draft law can be modified and improved to respond to the concerns of all parties in Lebanon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Tuesday visited Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh, saying all problems must be resolved through “dialogue.”

“Outstanding issues and political problems must be resolved through dialogue and understanding,” said Jumblat after the meeting.

The Syndicate Coordination Committee announced on Tuesday that it will undertake a series of protests and strikes as a response to the “cabinet's procrastination in referring the new wage scale to the parliament for vote”.

"We will not accept any further delay of this issues,” the SCC said in a released statement, calling for referring it to parliament as an urgent bill.