NNA - Parliament on Wednesday approved the general amnesty law, including agreed amendments providing for an exceptional reduction of certain prison sentences, following a show-of-hands vote.

The vote came after lawmakers resumed the legislative session to debate a proposal granting a general amnesty and exceptionally reducing the duration of certain sentences.

MPs from the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc and the Strong Lebanon bloc withdrew from the session over the absence of Defense Minister Michel Menassa.

Following the withdrawal of Free Patriotic Movement MPs, lawmaker Salim Aoun said the defense minister had been prevented from presenting the Lebanese Army and his ministry’s position.

"We recognize that the prime minister speaks on behalf of the government, but this proposal did not originate from the government, meaning this is not the government’s position," Aoun said, questioning why lawmakers could not hear a non-binding opinion from the defense minister.