Lebanon's Mikati confirms al-Rahi cooperation

Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati has said that head of Lebanon's Maronite Church, Patriarch Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rahi, has backed the government's efforts to draft a new elections law. The PM was speaking after a 90-minute meeting with Patriarch al-Rahi and Speaker of the House of Representatives Nabih Berri in Rome. Mikati explained that all three parties had agreed upon the need for the new law, to ward off fears of a political vacuum. He added that the patriarch was keen to push forward with elections and has promised hold talks with politicians in Lebanon to achieve political progress. The prime minister claimed that the Christian leader would also hold talks with the parliamentary officials for the approval of the elections law. The three men were also joined by Environment Minister Nazim el-Khouri and Lebanon's Ambassador to the Vatican, Georges Khouri. Meanwhile, Mikati has condemned the attacks on four Muslim sheikhs in Beirut on Sunday evening, and urged the speaker of the parliament and security authorities to deal with any sectarian repercussions of the incident. In a statement, the Lebanese prime minister has warned against the threat of sectarianism and vowed to confront those working to destabilise the country. Mikati adds that all national political parties from different ideologies must unite and work together in the national interest.