BEIRUT: The confrontation between Batroun MP Butros Harb and General Prosecutor Hatem Madi will likely be contained, according to sources from the Justice Ministry and the prime minister’s office. Speaking to The Daily Star, the sources said that a settlement is being worked out by Speaker Nabih Berri, Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Justice Minister Shakib Qortbawi, which would mean that Madi would drop his request to strip Harb of his parliamentary immunity.

Judicial sources expected that the case would be closed since Madi is retiring in six months’ time.

Madi sent a memo Monday to Qortbawi in which he requested that Harb’s parliamentary immunity be lifted, so that the lawmaker can be tried for offending President Michel Sleiman and the judiciary.

Harb hit back, saying that he would file a lawsuit against Madi for trying to strike a deal with Hezbollah to obstruct the implementation of the law in the case of an assassination attempt that targeted him last year.

But the settlement won’t prevent Harb and Madi from continuing their clash via other means.

Sources close to Harb said that he would carry on with his decision to file a lawsuit against Madi, while those close to Madi hinted at his raising financial issues to which Harb is allegedly linked.