Speaker Nabih Berri confirmed during Wednesday’s parliamentary meeting a list of politicians and figures targeted by extremist groups, describing the threat as serious and dangerous.

According to NBN, Berri called on security agencies to follow up the issue.

Speaker Nabih Berri described on Wednesday the army’s deployment in the northern city of Tripoli as relieving, noting that all the facilitations were provided to prevent sedition.

“We are required to help the army in maintaining security and preventing sedition,” Berri told An Nahar newspaper.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Tuesday that he would sign the $5.9 billion extra-budgetary spending bill if the necessary modifications were carried out.

“The campaign against me is useless,” Suleiman stated in an interview with al-Liwaa newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Monday that he isn’t willing to call on the cabinet to resign despite its low productivity as there is no other substitute for it.

“We have agreed on the formation of this cabinet because we had no other substitute or a better choice,” Berri told As Safir newspaper.

The premier of Australia’s New South Wales state, Barry O'Farrell, arrived in Beirut on Sunday at the head of an official delegation for talks with top Lebanese officials.

O’Farrell is scheduled to hold talks with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Premier Najib Miqati during his three-day visit.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Wednesday that the government needs to adopt a new approach in order to tackle the various pending issues in Lebanon.

He said: “The continuation of the government’s current performance is unacceptable.”

Speaker Nabih Berri considered on Wednesday that some constitutional authorities have been given to the head of state to resolve financial issues, hinting that President Michel Suleiman is refusing to use his jurisdictions to resolve the dispute over the $5.9 billion spending of 2011.

“The executive power should resolve the extra-budgetary spending dispute,” Berri told As Safir newspaper.

Premier Najib Miqati is scrambling to avoid a showdown between President Michel Suleiman and March 8 ministers during Wednesday’s cabinet session that is set to discuss the controversial $5.9 billion extra-budgetary spending.

Miqati held separate talks with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi on Monday in an effort to find a way out of the spending crisis that erupted after the March 8 ministers pressured the head of state to sign the $5.9 billion bill.

Minister of State Panos Manjian has confirmed that the cabinet will convene in Baabda Palace next Wednesday to discuss the extra-budgetary spending and 35 other articles on its agenda.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio station (93.3), Manjian said the agenda that was distributed to the cabinet ministers on Friday night includes 36 articles led by the spending issue.

Speaker Nabih Berri has found no reason in postponing Thursday’s cabinet session and reiterated that he would hold the government accountable if it continues to procrastinate on decisions linked to oil exploration.

There was no justification in postponing the session “amid the circumstances and the strikes carried out by more than one sector,” An Nahar daily on Saturday quoted Berri as saying.