BEIRUT: Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has threatened to question Cabinet in Parliament should it fail to approve Wednesday a decree to implement an oil exploration law.

“If Cabinet does not issue a decree during this [Wednesday] meeting allowing the implementation of the oil exploration law, I will hold a parliamentary session of questions to the government at the beginning of the new year,” Berri said in remarks published Tuesday by the daily As-Safir.

He said Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Energy Minister Jibran Bassil had promised to issue this decree before years’ end.

“I won’t accept any violations of this commitment. I will call Parliament to exercise its role and hold the government accountable,” Berri warned.

Parliament passed a draft law in summer 2010 allowing oil and gas exploration off the Lebanese coast.