Gemayel Meets in Jeddah with Muqrin, al-Faisal, Hariri

Kataeb Party MP Sami Gemayel held talks Tuesday in Jeddah with Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz and Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal.

Gemayel also met with al-Mustaqbal movement leader MP Saad Hariri, according to a statement issued by Kataeb.

The talks tackled “the local and regional situations, and means to restore stability in Lebanon and immunize state institutions, topped by the Lebanese army,” said the statement.

An Nahar newspaper reported earlier on Tuesday that a “tripartite meeting” is expected to be held in Jeddah between Gemayel, Hariri and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea.

Geagea traveled to Saudi Arabia on Monday evening on an “official visit.”

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper, Gemayel accompanied the LF chief on the same plane.

The three officials are expected to tackle the lingering political crises.

Lebanon's political scene reached an impasse over differences between the March 8 and 14 alliances.

The country has been without a president since the term of Michel Suleiman ended in May as the rival parties have failed so far to agree on a compromise candidate, which is threatening to thwart the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The crises are threatening further vacuum at Lebanese institutions, which could also impact the cabinet.

H.K./Y.R.