The Kataeb Party noted Friday that any “leniency” regarding the garbage landfills and the privatization process would mean that “corruption will remain in ultimate charge of this file,” stressing that privatizing the landfills is the government's duty.

In a statement issued in the afternoon, Kataeb insisted that “the government must take charge of the waste management file, and the authority over privatizing the landfills must be its duty.”

Hizbullah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah announced Friday that his party's fighters are maintaining full preparedness on the eastern border to confront any takfiri assault, alongside the army and security forces, noting that the inter-Christian dialogue that got underway might lead to resolving the presidential crisis.

“I salute the officers and soldiers of the army and the Islamic resistance who are deployed on the border and are protecting the country against Israeli and takfiri terrorist attacks,” Nasrallah said in a televised address during a ceremony held by the Hizbullah-affiliated al-Imdad Islamic Charitable Association.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam said on Friday that the Lebanese have no option but to resort to dialogue, reiterating his call for the election of a new president.

“We the Lebanese have no option but a rational dialogue (based on) openness,” Salam said.

The Lebanese army said on Friday that is has arrested in the eastern Bekaa Valley a Syrian suspected of belonging to a terrorist organization.

The military said in a communique that Moussa Obeid al-Khodr was apprehended in the area of Qob Elias on Thursday.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi slammed on Friday some journalists and TV stations without naming them for reports and shows that “contradict moral values” and said Lebanon's presidential crisis is linked to Sunni-Shiite discord.

“Some writings and TV shows are violating sanctity and resorting to deception and lies for money-making purposes,” said al-Rahi.

Snow fell on Friday on areas located 200 meters above the sea level as powerful storm Zina swept through Lebanon, blocking mountain roads and plummeting temperature with wind chills driving them even lower.

The temperature in the capital Beirut dipped as low as 2 degrees with wind chills.

Syrian President Bashar Assad reportedly said that there will be no presidential elections in Lebanon any time soon unless dialogue with Damascus led to a candidate who is an ally.

“This year might witness the election of a new president in Lebanon if certain conditions were implemented,” Assad's visitors quoted him as saying in comments published in the Kuwaiti newspaper al-Seyassah.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat has called for the end of political and sectarian calculations in the government after the cabinet members failed to strike a deal on the treatment of solid waste.

“The road to the Naameh landfill will close on January 17,” said a decisive Jumblat in comments to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Friday.

The Lebanese intelligence had informed its European counterparts that several jihadist groups linked to organizations in Syria or even in Europe will carry out a huge terrorist act on French territories.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Friday, several intelligence agencies, including that of Lebanon, warned European countries that jihadists will target France with terrorist acts.

The cabinet could convene again Saturday if the dispute on the controversial proposal on the treatment of solid waste was resolved by then, An Nahar daily reported.

The newspaper said Friday that Prime Minister Tammam Salam has expressed severe frustration over the obstacles placed in front of the proposal despite an earlier agreement reached between Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq and Kataeb Party representatives.