A large-scale meeting of the opposition March 14 forces is scheduled to be held in the residence of Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea in Maarab on Wednesday in a show of support after his escape from an assassination attempt last week.

The March 14 general-secretariat has invited around 200 personalities, including party leaders, lawmakers and former ministers to participate in the meeting in Maarab at 5:00 pm, An Nahar daily said.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati held talks with his Italian counterpart Mario Monti who arrived in Beirut on a one-day visit on Saturday during which he will also meet with UNIFIL’s Italian contingent.

“We appreciate Italy’s continuous support for Lebanon in the international community and stability in the South,” Miqati said during a joint press conference with his Italian counterpart.

Italy's Prime Minister Mario Monti is expected to arrive in Lebanon on Saturday on a one-day official visit, An Nahar newspaper reported.

The daily said that the PM will visit his country’s contingent in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon which is headed by Italian commander Maj. Gen. Paolo Serra.

Speaker Nabih Berri criticized on Thursday the cabinet’s slow performance, saying it was the reason behind his decision to schedule a parliamentary session to assess its work.

He described the cabinet’s performance as a “turtle” and stressed the importance of enhancing its work on all levels.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumlat slammed on Wednesday Speaker Nabih Berri’s decision to hold a general discussion parliament to assess the government’s performance.

“It’s an incomplete step,” Jumblat described it.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat warned Prime Minister Najib Miqati that if the cabinet adopted an electoral law based on proportionality then this would lead to the collapse of the government, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Wednesday

Al-Liwaa said Jumblat refuses the proposed electoral law, threatening to withdraw his National Struggle Front ministers from the cabinet, if the parliament approved the draft law and the government adopted it.

The March 14 opposition is mulling to withdraw its confidence from the government although it needs the support of MP Walid Jumblat’s National Struggle Front to achieve that objective, parliamentary sources said Tuesday.

The sources told al-Liwaa daily, however, that the lawmakers of the NSF would not join the opposition in its attempt to withdraw its confidence from the cabinet or several ministers given that Jumblat is reiterating his support for the government.

Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Monday that if the government re-implemented the 1960 electoral law for the upcoming 2013 elections then it would be a step backward, As Safir newspaper reported.

“Whoever is seeking to push this matter forward will be held responsible,” Berri said.

Speaker Nabih Berri hailed the government for reaching a deal on how to resolve the country’s lingering electricity crisis but criticized it for failing so far to appoint the members of the oil authority.

In remarks to As Safir daily on Friday, Berri said a government session at Baabda Palace on Wednesday “was probably the first productive session for a long time.”

The parliament will hold a general discussion session in April to assess the governments’ performance.

MP Marwan Hamadeh said on Wednesday, after the weekly meeting between Speaker Nabih Berri and lawmakers, that the three-day session will be held on April 11-13 or after the Easter holidays on April 18-20.