MP Alain Aoun of the Change and Reform bloc has stressed the keenness of President Michel Aoun and the Free Patriotic Movement on restoring normal ties with the Arab Gulf countries, noting that the president's upcoming visit to Riyadh will achieve this goal.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said the upcoming visit of President Michel Aoun to Saudi Arabia will carry important issues particularly reactivating the military aide program for the Lebanese Army, and considered Aoun's travel to Iran as a “normal” procedure.

“Aoun's Trip to Tehran is a normal matter, and if Iran wants to provide aide to the Lebanese State, why not?” said Geagea in an interview to the Kuwaiti al-Qabas daily on Saturday, rejecting the notion about the return of Bashar Assad's influence on Lebanon or Syria.

Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq said on Saturday, the latest accomplishments of the security forces in uncovering terror cells that had plans to carry attacks during the holiday season, called for utmost vigilance which in turn led to uncovering the terror-cell in Tripoli and other groups.

The Minister hailed, in an interview to VDL (93.3), “the serious endeavors and big work of the security forces and army troops in confronting terror attacks,” giving the larger “credit to the Intelligence Directorate.”

Grand Mufti of the Lebanese Republic Sheikh Abdul Latif Deryan has high expectations on the planned visit of President Michel Aoun to Saudi Arabia, and said it improves ties between the two countries, the state-run National News Agency reported Saturday.

A Lebanese man, who sustained gunfire wounds during a personal dispute that erupted in Tripoli on Friday, has succumbed to his wounds, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

A personal dispute erupted between the victim, Omar Kanju, and the assailant who was identified with his initials as A.R., in the northern neighborhood of Bab el-Tabbaneh in Tripoli, NNA said.

A Lebanese shepherd, Abdullah Rahmeh, who was abducted on Friday by the Israeli army was released at dawn on Saturday, the National News Agency reported.

The Israeli army handed Rahmeh to the UNIFIL troops at the Ras al-Naqoura border area. UNIFIL in turn handed him to the Lebanese Army Intelligence units, added NNA.

Prime Minister Saad Hariri received Friday evening at the Center House the Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Zhang Ming, in the presence of the Chinese Ambassador to Lebanon Wang Kejian.

After the meeting, Ming said: “I met with Prime Minister Hariri and we exchanged views on ways to reinforce cooperation between China and Lebanon. We also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.”

Chairman of the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon Mohammed Choucair stated that President Michel Aoun's visit to Saudi Arabia will restore ties back to normal between the two countries, the pan-Arab Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Saturday.

“President Aoun's visit to Saudi Arabia next week, will be the key for the return of brethren Gulf nationals back in Lebanon. The visit will put relations between the two countries back on the right track,” Choucair told the daily in an interview.

Chairman of Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Alaeddin Boroujerdi, said on Friday that the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to send military aid to the Lebanese army shall the Lebanese government authorize it.

“Iran's permanent and firm stance is to stand by the brotherly Lebanese Republic of Lebanon, government and people. We therefore reiterate our firm will in the field of arming the Lebanese army,” said Boroujerdi after placing a wreath on the grave of slain Hizbullah official Imad Moghnieh and his son.

Saudi chargé d'affaires in Lebanon Walid al-Bukhari stressed on Friday that Lebanon's president visit to Saudi Arabia will have positive results on the Saudi-Lebanese ties, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

“The visit will have positive outcome on the relations between Saudi Arabia and Lebanon,” said Bukhari.