The Free Patriotic Movement denied Thursday that it has proposed a settlement involving a new extension of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji's term.

Hizbullah's Loyalty to Resistance parliamentary bloc on Thursday urged the resumption of national dialogue sessions, describing the all-party talks as the only “realistic” solution.

Below is a blog written by British Ambassador to Lebanon Hugo Shorter to mark a year since he assumed his post:

The cabinet convened at the Grand Serail on Thursday in the presence of 16 ministers and the absence of the Free Patriotic Movement, Tashnaq and Hizbullah members of government, a meeting which Premier Tammam Salam described as “constitutional and respects the National Pact.”

Information Minister Ramzi Jreije quoted the PM and said: “The meeting is constitutional and respects the National Pact. But the PM paved the way for further consultations as for the current crisis in order to find solutions.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi received on Thursday several Christian officials where talks focused on the latest developments in Lebanon mainly the “marginalization of the Christians,” the state-run National News Agency said.

Rahi met with Kataeb party leader MP Sami Gemayel who left without making a statement.

Hizbullah decided to boycott Thursday's cabinet meeting in solidarity with a similar stance taken by its ally head of the Change and Reform parliamentary bloc MP Michel Aoun, sources close to the party told As Safir daily.

The sources said that Hizbullah decided to be absent from the meeting in solidarity with Aoun and to show an understanding of his party's apprehensions and the seriousness of a continued “marginalization of a major Lebanese component.”

A Lebanese citizen wanted in the United States and Brazil for suspected links to terrorism and arms trade was detained at the Ezeiza aiport in the Argentinian capital, Argentine's national news agency Telam reported on Thursday.

The detainee, Khalil Mohammed el-Sayyed was arrested by Argentinian authorities late on Wednesday, added the agency.

Free Patriotic Movement chief and Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil stressed Wednesday that the 1943 National Pact stipulated that we should “live together equally,” hitting back at remarks by Prime Minister Tammam Salam.

Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji stressed Wednesday that the latest domestic tensions “will not affect the army's role.”

Lebanese authorities have arrested in Beirut an opponent of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rule, a media report said on Wednesday.