National Struggle Front leader MP Walid Jumblatt ruled out on Wednesday the possibility of reaching an agreement between the Christian leaders over the presidential polls, adding that any Iranian-Arab rapprochement would lead to a settlement in Lebanon.
Jumblatt’s comments were made to Acharq al-Awsat newspaper whereby he noted that Christian leaders must agree on a consensual candidate for the presidential elections.
On another note, Jumblatt voiced his concerns over the unity of Syria, warning from the sectarian cleansing carried out by the Syrian regime against its people.
He also said that the Syrian regime is using the Alawites as human shields, sounding the alarm over their fate.
Kataeb party leader Amine Gemayel told Acharq al-Awsat newspaper on Wednesday that his current top priority is the election of a new president for the country.
He also voiced his concerns over the "normalization of the presidential void", urging lawmakers to deploy efforts to fulfill their national duties.
He concluded by saying that electing a new head of state is currently more important than ratifying any developmental project or making any administrative appointment at the cabinet.
Minister of Interior Nouhad Machnouq told As-Safir newspaper on Wednesday that the dialogue between Hezbollah and the Future Movement made significant progress.
On another note, Machnouq said that a solution will eventually be reached over the work mechanism of the cabinet amid the presidential vacuum.
He concluded by urging lawmakers to ease down tension, adding that the country cannot handle further crises.
Sources told An-Nahar newspaper on Wednesday that General Security leader Major General Abbas Ibrahim carried out positive discussions with officials in Turkey, which could lead to a breakthrough in the case of the Arsal abducted soldiers.
The same sources added that the abductors agreed to free the troops in two or three batches after the cabinet expressed tolerance towards the release of Islamist inmates from Lebanese prisons, adding that the jihadists demanded a ransom to start the swap deal.
According to the daily, the sources said that the inmates released from the Lebanese prisons will be deported to Turkey.