The March 14 Moustamerroun group of activists on Wednesday accused some of the ruling parties of “stoking sectarian sentiments” in order to “deviate the attention of the Lebanese from the corruption scandals that have exposed the true nature of the ruling class.”

Speaker Nabih Berri said on Wednesday that the long-awaited wage scale file is not included in the draft state budget that was submitted to the parliament today, but assured that it is on the agenda of the upcoming legislative session on May 15, media reports said.

“The salary scale is listed on the agenda of the parliament meeting scheduled on May 15,” Berri was quoted as saying.

Speaker Nabih Berri said a new electoral law must be agreed within the one-month time period given since President Michel Aoun used his powers to suspend the parliament, and assured that he longer adheres to the 64-64 version of a law format he proposed earlier, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

“In the remaining time we have to reach a new electoral law, we must not give up or be forced to extend (the parliament's term). There is still time, it is shameful for us to fail at finding a format that satisfies all segments of Lebanese society, regardless of their magnitude,” Berri told his visitors on Tuesday

The Lebanese army arrested the 'largest arms dealer' in Lebanon in the border town of Britel in the Bekaa region, media reports said on Wednesday.

The army staged security raids in the said area and was able arrest the dealer, who was identified as Aahed Mohsen Mazloum, they added.

The Internal Security Forces arrested 35-year-old Syrian mother on Wednesday after dumping her newborn baby a year earlier into a waste container on al-Dora highway, the National News Agency reported Wednesday.

“On the basis of information available to the Tripoli Judicial Unit, the police were able to arrest Syrian national S.H. for throwing out on 22/6/2016 her newborn baby girl into a dumpster in al-Dora area. The baby was thrown out the same day she was born,” an ISF statement said.

The international community has notified the Lebanese government of the necessity to agree on a new law for the upcoming parliamentary polls in order for the country to be able to restore its “democratic rhythm,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

“Prominent international community sources have communicated with the Lebanese government stressing the necessity to devise a new law or stage the parliamentary elections because the international community is annoyed with a country that endured a presidential vacuum for two years, and is unable now to draft a new election law and restore its normal democratic cycle,” said al-Joumhouria.

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil on Tuesday stressed that the members of parliament must truly be representative of their religious communities, while warning that the country can know no stability without the approval of a new electoral law.

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc on Tuesday called for an electoral law that “strengthens national unity” and “respects Islamic-Christian coexistence.”

Representative Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ), Chairman of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, led a Congressional delegation visit to Lebanon on April 13-15, the U.S. Embassy said.

The International Support Group for Lebanon on Tuesday urged Lebanese leaders to reach an “agreed electoral framework” and to organize “timely elections.”