Speaker Nabih Berri said no interference was made on his part into a judicial decision--suspended later-- that froze the assets of twenty Lebanese banks, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

Lebanon's attorney general has suspended an order freezing the assets of 20 banks and their directors over concerns about its impact on the country's fragile economy, state-run media said.

A number of politicians on Thursday blasted a decision by Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim to freeze the assets of 20 Lebanese banks, as Speaker Nabih Berri denied influencing the prosecutor’s ruling.

“Some suspicious TV networks aired news claiming that the parliament speaker was behind the decision taken by Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim towards the banks. The press office of Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri stresses that Mr. Speaker has not and will never interfere in the work of the judiciary,” the office said in a statement, noting that the reports are “totally baseless.”

Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim on Thursday said his decision to freeze the assets of 20 Lebanese banks is “not only aimed at protecting depositors but also at rattling the banks and telling them that none of them is above accountability.”

In a phone interview with the National News Agency, Ibrahim voiced surprise about the “exaggerated uproar” over his decision, noting that “this decision is like the other judicial files that we are handling.”

The Trial Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon announced Thursday that it will deliver its verdicts in the case of the 2005 assassination of ex-PM Rafik Hariri and his companions in a public session in mid-May 2020.

In a filing issued Thursday, the Judges stated that they would specify the precise date of the public pronouncement of the Judgment as soon as possible.

The Cabinet on Thursday approved a draft law on lifting bank secrecy, Information Minister Manal Abdul Samad said, describing it as “an important achievement for the government, which will not hesitate to hold accountable any corrupt person.”

Speaking after a Cabinet session at the Baabda Palace, Abdul Samad added that the Cabinet will convene Saturday to discuss the financial situations and mull the issue of whether or not to pay a $1.2 billion Eurobond debt which matures on March 9.

Lebanon's coronavirus cases rose to 16 on Thursday after a Lebanese woman coming from Britain tested positive for the virus, the Health Ministry said.

The woman had been admitted into the American University of Beirut Medical Center on Wednesday.

Financial Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim put a “prevention of disposal” signal on the assets of twenty Lebanese banks, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

He also imposed a freeze on the assets of the heads and members of boards of directors of these banks, said NNA.

The price of U.S. dollar to the Lebanese pound recorded a new increase on Thursday at the parallel market reaching LBP 2,680 for buying and LBP 2,600 for selling.

The Cabinet convened at Baabda Presidential Palace to discuss nine items on its agenda, in addition to several “pressing” issues, the National News Agency reported on Thursday.

President Michel Aoun chaired the meeting held in the presence of PM Hassan Diab and the ministers, said NNA.