Speaker Nabih Berri expressed belief on Tuesday that the rival political parties in Lebanon are gearing up for the 2014 presidential elections.

“The battle over the 2013 electoral draft law is linked to the presidential elections... It reveals the votes of the newly elected MPs,” Berri said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

The different factions of the March 14 opposition alliance held a series of meetings on Monday to join forces in proposing a draft-electoral law that satisfies all parties, An Nahar daily reported.

The newspaper said that al-Mustaqbal bloc leader Fouad Saniora discussed with several other opposition leaders the electoral law.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat questioned on Monday the “shameful” proposal to raise the salaries of presidents, ministers, and lawmakers, saying that such a suggestions is unacceptable in light of the difficult financial situation in the country.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Their salaries should not be raised, but cut in half to set a good example to the people.”

March 14 officials will hold intense talks next week to unite their stance on President Michel Suleiman's blueprint on a national defense strategy and an electoral law that satisfies all the opposition parties, a March 14 opposition told al-Mustaqbal daily Sunday.

Some opposition officials have already made several proposals and meetings are being held to discuss them, al-Mustaqbal and An Nahar newspapers said.

Interior Minister Marwan Charbel said Thursday the results of a security plan aimed at fighting the kidnap-for-ransom phenomenon in Lebanon will begin appearing in the coming few days.

“We have names and information that help us in our mission,” the minister told several local newspapers. “We are clamping down on the network and its subsidiaries.”

The joint parliamentary committees convened on Wednesday to tackle the government-approved electoral law.

Media reports said however that the session was later suspended over a lack of quorum when opposition MPs withdrew from the meeting.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat called on Monday for committing to the Taef accord as “an interpretation of Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Lebanon.”

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “The Lebanese people are obligated to double their efforts in order to implement the Apostolic Exhortation in order to remove fears of a large number of Lebanese, especially Christians, in order to eliminate the concept of minorities.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat hoped on Tuesday that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi's visit to Mount Lebanon over the weekend would “pave the way to further cooperation and coordination in matters that benefit the region and all of its residents.”

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “Al-Rahi's visit was a success on all levels.”

Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi kicked off on Saturday a two-day pastoral visit to the region of Chouf as he is expected to hold talks with Progressive Socialist Party Walid Jumblat.

He stressed that the Lebanese are raised on coexistence among each other, urging citizens to preserve the national unity based on the “spirit of love and partnership.”

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri rejected accusations that the March 14 camp is arming the Syrian opposition, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

He told the daily: “We provide it with humanitarian and political support.”