BEIRUT - The Lebanese Forces (LF) parliamentary bloc called for an extraordinary parliamentary session to endorse the General Amnesty law for the release of jailed LF leader Samir Geagea to be held "as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Batroun MP Butros Harb announced that he has collected the signatures of 70 MPs for a petition demanding an immediate session to vote on Geagea's parole bill.

The LF's statement, issued after a meeting held at Geagea's home, came in response to the presidential decree that opened the legislative session without listing the Geagea bill on the agenda.

The majority of Parliament boycotted the session scheduled for Wednesday, blocking a quorum needed for them to vote on Parliament's new specialized committees, which was the only agenda item listed in the decree issued by President Emile Lahoud and outgoing Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Tuesday.

Speaker Nabih Berri, who said he "regretted the confusion that took place," announced the cancellation of Wednesday's session and renewed his public pledge that Geagea will be released before the end of July.

The LF bloc thanked MPs from the Future Movement, the Progressive Socialist Party, the Tripoli Gathering, the Qornet Shehwan and all other MPs who showed solidarity with them on the issue of Geagea's release by helping to cause the postponement of Wednesday's session.

Harb said he hoped Berri would submit the request to the president, who would need to issue a decree to open an extraordinary session to debate the General Amnesty Law, which pertains to Geagea and the Dinnieh and Majdel Anjar prisoners, and also the proposal to amend the electoral law's Article 68, which regulates the media during elections.

Harb explained that the MPs' request was not a challenge to the president, but rather their constitutional right.

He said that MPs from Berri's bloc, Kesrouan MP Michel Aoun's bloc and other MPs signed the petition as well.

For his part, Mikati issued a statement saying that he made the decision to open an extraordinary session to vote in the committees together with Lahoud upon Berri's request and following the advice of several others who said that convening an extraordinary session without a decree was a constitutional violation.

However, Mikati said that since the situation has developed, "We are ready to respond positively to any demand serving the country's interest after consulting with the president in line with constitutional regulations."

Beirut MP Gebran Tueni said Berri should open a session to allow MPs to vote on the Geagea bill.

"It is time for Parliament to become sovereign and for decisions to be made inside it, not on its behalf, especially in an issue as important as Dr. Samir Geagea's release," he said in an interview with the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation.

Meanwhile, Geagea's prison conditions have improved prior to his imminent release, as he has been permitted to have a television set in his prison cell. While Geagea's jail conditions have steadily improved, LF member Gerges Khoury, who was jailed at the same time as Geagea remains imprisoned underground. (Daily Star)