The presidential elections were postponed on Wednesday for the 26th time following a lack of quorum at parliament.

Speaker Nabih Berri postponed the polls to August 12.

Speaker Nabih Berri revealed that Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement have made “new proposals” that would be on track to be implemented.

Berri, whose remarks were published in several local newspapers on Wednesday, told his visitors that the two parties' officials “made new suggestions on a win-win basis” during their latest round of talks.

Several parties have launched initiatives to resolve the dispute among cabinet members over the government's decision-making mechanism, sources said.

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat, a centrist, has tasked Health Minister Wael Abou Faour to hold talks with Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Hizbullah officials.

Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni, who is on an official visit to Beirut, has expressed concern over the presidential crisis in Lebanon.

“A commitment to elect a president concerns all the Lebanese,” Gentiloni told An Nahar daily in an interview published on Tuesday.

The 15th round of talks between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement that lasted until dawn Tuesday failed to reach a breakthrough on controversial issues, officials told al-Mustaqbal daily.

The officials, who were not identified, said the talks started at 10:00 pm Monday and lasted till 1:00 am during which several issues were discussed.

Speaker Nabih Berri has said that he would call for a legislative session soon after it received the required signatures of cabinet ministers.

Berri's visitors quoted him as saying that holding an extraordinary parliamentary session has become more than necessary.

Speaker Nabih Berri has preferred to remain silent over a stormy cabinet session caused by tension between Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

“I am not talking and not hearing,” Berri told officials who visited him in Ain el-Tineh.

Speaker Nabih Berri has reiterated that he rejected being involved in a dispute with any Lebanese politician while stressing that Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun cannot not take any action that would harm the state.

Al-Joumhouria daily on Wednesday quoted Berri as telling his visitors that “the person who considers himself 'the son of the (political) system or the son of the state' cannot do anything that would damage or harm the state.”

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea on Tuesday rejected attempts by Speaker Nabih Berri to hold an extraordinary parliamentary session and appeased fears on the situation of Christians in Lebanon.

“LF MPs are ready to attend any parliamentary session whose agenda is topped by the electoral draft-law and the law on granting the citizenship to Lebanese expatriates,” said Geagea.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has expressed concern over Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun's threats to mobilize his supporters, saying his move is putting Lebanon's coexistence in danger.

Salam's concern comes despite Speaker Nabih Berri being more optimistic.