The March 14 forces on Wednesday noted that the roadmap proposed by al-Mustaqbal movement leader MP Saad Hariri is “the most suitable” for Lebanon's endurance in the face of the current developments, stressing that the election of a new president has become “more than necessary.”

“In the face of the rapid developments in the region, from the battered Gaza that is standing tall against the Israeli killing machine to Iraq that is reeling under the hammers of terrorism and dictatorship, not to mention Syria, the (March 14) General Secretariat underlines that the election of a new president according to the Constitution and the Lebanese political system's mechanisms has become more than necessary to foil the impending threats,” it said.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun stressed Tuesday that parliamentary polls must precede the stalled presidential vote, noting that “scaring” people of the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering reflects “unjustified concerns.”

“Some parties are trying to disregard national pacts in the presidential elections. Some parties are bargaining over the presidential seat but we don't care who gets elected, as our battle is aimed at reforming the laws of presidential and parliamentary elections, which would prevent any president from being subordinate to foreign powers,” Aoun told reporters after the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform bloc in Rabieh.

Head of al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora kicked off a tour on March 14 leaders to tackle the roadmap proposed by al-Mustaqbal chief ex-Premier Saad Hariri.

Local newspapers published on Tuesday reported that Saniora and head of the ex-PM's office Nader Hariri began their tour with Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel during a meeting held in Bikfaya on Sunday evening.

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel lauded the roadmap established by al-Mustaqbal chief Saad Hariri, considering the “timely” initiative a push for the presidential elections impasse.

“Hariri's initiative came in time amid the ongoing vacuum and the local political deadlock,” Gemayel said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper on Monday.

Speaker Nabih Berri reiterated his assertion that a president should be elected before holding the parliamentary polls, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Monday.

“We cannot appoint a new prime minister before the election of a president,” he added in response to head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri's declaration that a speaker of parliament cannot be elected before a president.

Negotiations between AMAL and al-Mustaqbal movements over the country's financial crisis failed to reach a breakthrough as the two parties insisted on their stance despite a mediation led by the Progressive Socialist Party.

Speaker Nabih Berri defended on Saturday his adviser, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil, stressing that he insists on the endorsement of a spending decree at the parliament to pay the salaries of public employees.

Electing Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun as president for a two-year term is being proposed as a means to end the presidential deadlock, reported al-Akhbar newspaper on Wednesday.

It said that Lebanese circles in the French capital Paris that are close to head of the Mustaqbal Movement MP Saad Hariri made the proposal in exchange for forming a cabinet that ensures the interests of his movement.

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader Saad Hariri will launch an initiative in the upcoming two days after intensive meetings with his party members in Jeddah, local newspapers reported on Wednesday.

Al-Joumhouria newspaper reported that consultations between Hariri and members of his movement aimed at “putting the final touches” on a political initiative that the former PM is expected to launch during his televised speech on Friday in an iftar hosted by al-Mustaqbal.

The political crises gripping the state is awaiting the stance of al-Mustaqbal movement chief Saad Hariri to restore activity in the parliament and at the cabinet.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Tuesday, Hariri will make a televised speech on Friday during an iftar hosted by al-Mustaqbal.

A delegation from al-Mustaqbal movement headed to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia for consultations with head of the movement former premier Saad Hariri.

The delegation will discuss with Hariri the latest developments and the stance from a possible cabinet session on Thursday, An Nahar newspaper reported on Monday.