Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan confirmed reports that the parliamentary majority forces were seeking to garner majority support for a draft-law proposed by him to authorize the cabinet to set the transportation allowance.

The draft-law “is a solution and guarantees the (continued) work of the cabinet, Kanaan told An Nahar daily published Wednesday despite reports that Speaker Nabih Berri could withdraw the draft-law and another one drafted by opposition al-Mustaqbal MP Nabil de Freij from the agenda of the session if the resignation of Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas was not sent to Premier Najib Miqati ahead of the session.

Speaker Nabih Berri adjourned to Thursday a parliamentary session set to discuss several draft laws, a day after Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas submitted his resignation to Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun for refusing to sign the controversial transportation allowance decree.

While parliament discussed several issues during its Wednesday session, it did not tackle the two main draft laws that would determine the fate of the transportation allowance.

Police in Azerbaijan have arrested an unspecified number of people linked to Iran and Hizbullah suspected of planning attacks in the country, Azerbaijan’s state television said Tuesday.

State broadcaster AzTV, quoting the National Security Ministry, said police had detained people linked to Iranian intelligence services and Hizbullah who intended to stage attacks on foreign citizens in the country.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc condemned on Tuesday Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s position on the March 14 ceremony last week that marked the seventh anniversary of the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, saying that he undermined the people of Lebanon.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “The negativity that marked his speech only exacerbates the division between the Lebanese.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun revealed on Tuesday that he has not yet decided whether he will accept Labor Minister Charbel Nahhas’ resignation.

He said after the Change and Reform bloc’s weekly meeting: “The dispute over the transportation allowance is now between us and Nahhas.”

The General Labor Confederation filed a complaint on Tuesday to the International Labor Organization against the Lebanese government and Labor Ministry.

It filed the complaint against violations committed by the government and ministry in determining wages.

President Michel Suleiman said Tuesday that the state should from now on work for the public good and recruit competent civil servants rather than be governed by the politicians’ personal interests.

“The efforts in the next stage should focus on turning the state from a state of personal benefits and sectarian and regional division of shares into a state (that works for the) public good and whose doors are open for all competencies in state institutions seeking to achieve sustainable development,” Suleiman told his visitors at Baabda palace.

Former General Security chief Jamil al-Sayyed slammed on Monday Prime Minister Najib Miqati’s assumption of the premiership, accusing him of only serving his personal interests.

He told MTV television: “His position at the head of the government is the biggest catastrophe for Lebanon.”

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon spokesman Neeraj Singh revealed on Tuesday that Israel will perform maintenance operations along the technical border fence in the Aitaroun region in Bint Jbeil, reported the National News Agency.

He added that Israel informed UNIFIL of its measures and that the international troops had in turn relayed the message to the Lebanese army.

An unusual bad smell that has engulfed the northern district of Akkar, causing some cases of breathing problems among the residents, originates from Syria, MP Moeen al-Merehbi said Tuesday.

“The source of the odor is Syria,” al-Merehbi told Voice of Lebanon radio station (100.5).