The March 14 opposition alliance, which has severely criticized a new electoral draft-law, is gearing up to reject it in parliament and holding intense meetings to draft a new law in coordination with Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat, high-ranking opposition sources said.

The sources told An Nahar daily that the March 14 forces will not only work on toppling the draft-law, but will seek through small coordination committees along with centrist Jumblat to work on reaching common points that would form the nucleus of a new draft.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Thursday that he is committed to proportional representation for the parliamentary electoral law, saying that the majority of the Lebanese supported this proposal.

He hoped that parliament would address the possibility of adopting small electoral districts during the elections “in order to garner the support of as many sides as possible.”

Speaker Nabih Berri hoped on Wednesday that positive talks would be held on the parliamentary electoral law that was approved by cabinet on Tuesday.

He said: “Discussions should set national interests above all else.”

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat slammed on Wednesday the government’s adoption of a new electoral law in the absence of a single sovereign state that enjoys the decision of war and peace.

In remarks to several newspapers, Jumblat said: “The electoral law cannot be discussed calmly in a tense sectarian atmosphere and in the absence of a single authority and a single state.”

Cabinet approved on Tuesday a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation.

The draft law was subject to a vote at cabinet, enjoying the support of all ministers except those of the National Struggle Front, announced acting Information Minister Wael Abou Faour after the session, which was held at the Baabda Palace and headed by President Michel Suleiman.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat praised on Monday President Michel Suleiman’s “important political positions” on Army Day, most notably his remarks that “there can be no partnership with the army and forces responsible for maintaining Lebanon’s security.”

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa magazine: “We are seeking arms for the defense of Lebanon alone. We don’t want a defense strategy for the Hormuz Strait or any other area.”

Cabinet agreed on Monday to form of a committee to study the development of areas in the northern Bekaa without approving any compensation to cannabis farmers.

The ministers also agreed to postpone discussions on the parliamentary electoral law to a cabinet session on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held on to his stance of deporting Syrian criminals to preserve Lebanese security despite severe criticism by Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat who reiterated that Lebanese authorities should refrain from sending back any Syrian in the current circumstances.

“Do they want security deterioration in the country?” Miqati asked about the officials who criticized him for supporting the decision of the General Security to deport 14 Syrians after they served their sentences in Lebanon in accordance with a judicial agreement signed between the two countries in 1951.

The 14 Syrians, who were deported by the Lebanese authorities, were released on Saturday amid reports saying that one of them returned back to Lebanon.

Al-Jadeed television station said that the Syrian authorities released the 14 men.

Syria’s Ambassador Ali Abdul Karim Ali lauded on Friday the Lebanese General Security’s deportation of 14 Syrians, describing the move as “reassuring.”

Following talks with former Premier Salim Hoss in Beirut’s Aisha Bakkar district, Ali said: “The General Security’s move came in line with international standards.”