Speaker Nabih Berri has criticized parliamentary blocs that are pressuring him into putting certain draft-laws on the agenda of a legislative session, saying he is not their employee.

The Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces had urged Berri to put a draft-law on giving the nationality to Lebanese expatriates on the agenda of the session.

Speaker Nabih Berri had expressed his concern over the escalation of the Sunni-Shiite strife in the region, while emphasizing the need to safeguard the interests of Lebanese expatriates, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

Berri had informed the visiting Lebanese Business and Investment Council in Saudi Arabia that “he disapproves of the harsh rhetoric, by Lebanese sides, against the kingdom.”

Speaker Nabih Berri revealed that lawmakers from the Free Patriotic Movement had discussed with him on Wednesday the agenda of a legislative session and their aim to include a number of draft-laws to it, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Friday.

He stated that he would call for such a session if the FPM agrees to take part in it.

Speaker Nabih Berri praised on Wednesday the implementation of a security plan in Beirut and its southern suburbs of Dahiyeh.

He said: “We laud the plan and role of the security agencies in cracking down on terrorist cells.”

Prime Minister Tammam Salam held talks on Monday with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tineh, the state-run National News Agency reported.

The NNA reported that the two officials discussed the latest developments in Lebanon, in particular the parliamentary crisis.

The fate of a controversial parliamentary session that Speaker Nabih Berri insists on calling for is facing further obstacles as Christian lawmakers are holding onto their decision to boycott it.

Berri warned in comments published in local newspapers that boycotting the session would lead to chaos in the country, accusing “those who are obstructing legislation on the pretext of presidential vacuum are also boycotting the elections sessions.”

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has expressed concern over the rising dispute between the country's different factions, which could paralyze the government.

In remarks to As Safir daily published on Monday, Salam urged all parties to be “wise and confront the difficult situation that the country is living.”

Preparations are underway for a two-day visit by Irish President Michael D. Higgins, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Saturday.

A European diplomatic source told the daily that Higgins will arrive in Beirut on Sunday night on an official visit.

Ex-PM Saad Hariri held talks Friday with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden in Washington and noted that his Mustaqbal movement is fighting the “extremism” of Hizbullah and other groups.

A statement issued by Hariri's office said the White House meeting focused on the situation in Lebanon and the latest developments in the region, “particularly what is happening in Syria, Iraq and Yemen."

Speaker Nabih Berri called on the rival Christian parties to reconsider their stance regarding an upcoming parliamentary session to endorse draft-laws.

“I have carried out my duties... we prepared the session's agenda... I am waiting for everyone to reconsider their stances, as I will not contact anyone anymore and will not discuss it,” Berri stressed in comments published in local newspapers on Friday.