Hizbullah has been training Syrians from the Shiite sect in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley to defend themselves against the rebel Free Syrian Army, sources told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat on Wednesday.

The Syrian Shiite sources said around 1,500 men are receiving salaries and being trained in the Bekaa camps to fight in Syria and defend Shiite villages and towns against the rebels.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat described his meeting with Speaker Nabih Berri as “excellent,” saying he is convinced that dialogue and abiding by the Taef accord are the only solutions to end the political deadlock in the country.

“It is necessary to periodically meet with Berri and discuss with him all the developments,” Jumblat said in comments to As Safir newspaper on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati expressed reservations on Wednesday on the so-called Orthodox Gathering proposal, saying MPs should agree on an electoral draft-law that guarantees a just representation.

In remarks to An Nahar daily, Miqati stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on “a draft-law that guarantees the fair representation of all sects and factions.”

President Michel Suleiman stated on Tuesday his rejection of adopting the Orthodox Gathering's proposed law in the upcoming parliamentary elections, describing it as “unconstitutional”.

"We encourage the electoral subcommittee to discuss the proportional representation law,” Suleiman said in an interview with the Progressive Socialist Party-affiliated newspaper al-Anbaa, adding that this so-called Butros draft law can be modified and improved to respond to the concerns of all parties in Lebanon.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat on Tuesday visited Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh, saying all problems must be resolved through “dialogue.”

“Outstanding issues and political problems must be resolved through dialogue and understanding,” said Jumblat after the meeting.

The Syndicate Coordination Committee announced on Tuesday that it will undertake a series of protests and strikes as a response to the “cabinet's procrastination in referring the new wage scale to the parliament for vote”.

"We will not accept any further delay of this issues,” the SCC said in a released statement, calling for referring it to parliament as an urgent bill.

The Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday that Lebanese consulates and embassies have received several requests by expatriates to vote in the 2013 parliamentary elections.

So far, 2,733 expatriates have submitted requests at 46 foreign missions, while 40 other missions have not yet received any requests.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc rejected on Tuesday the adoption of a parliamentary electoral law based on proportional representation “at the moment”.

It explained: “We reject this law given the control of the de facto powers over Lebanon in a manner that prevents all sides from properly benefiting from its reform characteristics.”

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on Tuesday announced that his allies support the electoral law proposed by the Orthodox Gathering, rejecting what he described as attempts to “steal the rights of Christians.”

“Our allies support the Orthodox Gathering law and we will hear their stance during the meeting of the parliamentary committees this evening,” Aoun told reporters after the weekly meeting of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc in Rabiyeh.

The storm that has been hitting Lebanon since Saturday has caused millions of dollars in damages throughout Lebanon.

The Beirut southern suburb of Hay al-Sellom has been described as a “disaster area.” Flood waters from al-Ghadir River invaded homes and shops, turning the streets into ponds and wreaking havoc in the impoverished area.