Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Friday called on all politicians in Lebanon to continue to seek consensus over a new electoral law, urging an end to the “treason accusations” among Christians leaders.

“After six years of proposing draft laws and wasting days and months in studying proposals and holding consultations and meetings, failing to reach a new law for parliamentary elections would harm the image of the parliament and political officials in Lebanon, and subsequently the image of Lebanon and the dignity of its people,” al-Rahi said in an appeal to Lebanon's leaders from Colombia.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Maura Connelly on Thursday stressed the importance of holding the parliamentary elections on time, during separate meetings with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea and Phalange Party chief Amin Gemayel.

“In her meetings, Ambassador Connelly noted the overwhelming public support among the Lebanese people that elections be held in a timely manner and urged all parties to work in support of that goal,” said a statement issued by the U.S. embassy.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Thursday accused the Syrian regime and Hizbullah of waging a “new elimination war” against his party, pointing out that Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is only a cover for this attack.

“The LF is exposed to a new elimination war similar to what happened in 1989, and it is using again the same tools used back then,” Geagea stated in a press conference during which he responded to attacks against his party after it withdrew its support for the Orthodox Gathering's draft electoral law.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea stated on Wednesday that the party had from the beginning of discussions over a parliamentary electoral law sought an agreement over one that garners the support of all sides, stressing that it never pledged to adopt the Orthodox Gathering law.

He said during a press conference: “The Orthodox proposal never had the chance to succeed.”

Speaker Nabih Berri has proposed a hybrid electoral law in response to a last-minute deal between al-Mustaqbal bloc and the Lebanese Forces on a similar vote plan that sought to avert differences among the March 14 alliance's members.

Berri scrambled to hold a meeting of around 30 MPs from the March 8 coalition on Tuesday and late at night made his proposal after the announcement of a deal on a hybrid vote law between al-Mustaqbal and the LF.

The March 14 forces intensified their contacts on Tuesday in a bid to reach an agreement on a hybrid electoral law, as the Free Patriotic Movement called on the Christian political forces to confirm their commitment to the controversial Orthodox Gathering proposal.

In remarks to MTV on the eve of Wednesday's key parliamentary session, Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea said “agreeing on a hybrid law would be a major triumph for both proper representation and the consensual spirit."

Lebanese Force chief Geagea and al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri have discussed the electoral law during a “lengthy phone conversation,” Geagea's press office said Tuesday.

Geagea and the former prime minister “held an extensive discussion on the latest developments on the electoral law,” it said.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi has welcomed a meeting held between Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea and caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil on the electoral law.

Al-Rahi, who is currently visiting Brazil, told a delegation from Lebanese Christian parties in Sao Paulo that “Bkirki is at an equal distance from everyone” and that he is “in daily contact with the Christian parties.”

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Monday held talks at his headquarters in Maarab with caretaker Energy and Water Minister Jebran Bassil and former deputy speaker Elie al-Ferzli.

LF MPs George Adwan and Elie Kairouz also attended the meeting, according to the National News Agency.

Former MP Elie Ferzli, who has been tasked by Free Patriotic Movement leader Michel Aoun to discuss with Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea the electoral law, said Sunday that the Orthodox Gathering proposal remains the best option if MPs failed to agree on a new vote plan.

In remarks to Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3), Ferzli described his meeting with Geagea in Maarab on Saturday as “positive.”