Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati stressed on Sunday the need for unity and solidarity to save Lebanon "because hunger is knocking on everyone's doors."
In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he denied that a deal was struck to end the Shiite duo's - Hezbollah and Amal - boycott of cabinet sessions.
Hezbollah and Amal said on Saturday they would end a boycott of cabinet sessions, opening the way for ministers to meet after a three-month gap that has seen the economic crisis deepen and currency collapse further.
The groups said the decision was driven by a desire to approve the 2022 budget and to discuss an economic recovery.
The groups had been refusing to attend cabinet sessions in a dispute over the handling of an investigation into the huge Beirut port blast in 2020.
The failure to hold cabinet meetings has delayed talks on a recovery plan with the International Monetary Fund, seen as vital to unlocking international support to lift the country out of a crisis that has driven swathes of the nation into poverty.
Mikati said he was working tirelessly with ministers to begin preparing the draft budget law.
He hoped the draft would be ready by the end of the week so that deliberations over it can begin next week.
The PM dismissed claims that Hezbollah and Amal had ended their boycott at foreign requests given the latest regional and international developments.
"Their decision stems from their sense of duty towards the suffering of the Lebanese people to help them out of the current economic and financial crises," he said.
"We must all assume our responsibilities to save our country and this is what happened," he added.
