BEIRUT: Prime Minister Najib Mikati asked lawmakers Sunday to cooperate to protect the country during what he described as an extremely complicated time.

“The current situation is extremely complex and sensitive and will not tolerate any risks or challenges which could be an entry to further division in the country,” Mikati wrote on his Facebook page, hours before Future Movement began its rally in Tripoli, the prime minister’s hometown.

“What is needed from everyone is to cooperate and collaborate to protect this nation and its citizens and practice politics with a national responsibility,” Mikati said.

Since the collapse of the government of former Prime Minister Saad Hariri in January and the appointment of Mikati as prime minister, Future Movement and the March 14 coalition lawmakers have waged a campaign against Mikati, accusing him of having no decision-making power and describing his government as being under the control of Hezbollah.

Political tension between lawmakers in the government rose to the surface in recent days after Mikati Thursday warned he would quit if the Cabinet blocked the funding of the controversial Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and nine ministers from the Free Patriotic Movement boycotted Friday’s Cabinet session in what they said was protest against the government’s poor performance.

The move to boycott the session was seen as a message to Mikati in response to his warning regarding the funding, which the majority represented by FPM and Hezbollah staunchly reject.

The STL has been the center of a political storm in Lebanon especially after the court in late June indicted four Hezbollah members of involvement in the 2005 assassination of former statesman Rafik Hariri.

Under U.N. Security Council Resolution 1757, Lebanon is obligated to pay 49 percent of the court’s annual budget which this year amounts to $36 million.