Berri tells Geagea municipal vote 'not possible' without south

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said that municipal elections will not happen without including the south where Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging daily cross-border fire.

"Geagea has to understand that I will not separate the south from Lebanon," Berri said in response to Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea who called Tuesday for timely municipal elections, despite the daily clashes in south Lebanon.

Geagea said that the south can be excluded, accusing Hezbollah and its allies of obstructing the municipal elections.

Berri warned against "federalism" in Geagea's statement and said "the municipal vote will not be held without the south."

In April last year, Lebanese MPs voted to extend the terms of municipal councils and other local officials for a year.

"Anyone who contributes to a third extension of the terms of municipalities would be committing an additional crime against Lebanon and the Lebanese people", Geagea said.