Geagea ready for presidential consensus only through 'bilateral talks'

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea is ready for consensus on a new president through bilateral talks.

Geagea said Thursday in a statement, in response to remarks by Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri about the urgent need to elect a president, that consensus can be reached through "calm bilateral consultations" and not through a "theatrical" dialogue table.

Berri had warned against a further delay in electing a president, in remarks published Thursday in al-Joumhouria newspaper.

"A president must be elected within the next few weeks," he said. "The longer it takes us to reach the needed consensus, the more complications and damages will increase."