Change and Reform bloc secretary MP Ibrahim Kanaan held talks Monday with the main Christian parties in a bid to clinch their support for Free Patriotic Movement chief Michel Aoun's proposal on carrying out a survey to determine which Christian party or parties are influential in the country.

Following a meeting with Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea in Maarab, Kanaan said the LF chief reiterated to him “his support for organizing the survey.”

The mother-in-law of a notorious Lebanese-Australian Islamic State group fighter said Monday she was "devastated" that police had refused to help bring her five grandchildren home from Syria.

Karen Nettleton's daughter Tara is married to Khaled Sharrouf, who gained global infamy last year when he posted pictures of himself and his seven-year-old son on Twitter holding up the severed heads of soldiers.

A top U.S. official is expected to visit Beirut to discuss with top Lebanese officials the demarcation of the maritime border with Israel, an issue which was thoroughly discussed by Prime Minister Tammam Salam and Speaker Nabih Berri over the weekend.

Amos Hochstein, who serves as the Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs leading the Bureau of Energy Resources (ENR) at the U.S. Department of State, will travel to Beirut this week.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam called on the cabinet to convene on Thursday after a three-week suspension of sessions over the dispute on security appointments.

Salam made the announcement in a terse statement he issued on Monday after local dailies quoted him as saying that he will continue his consultations with the representatives of political parties this week.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea downplayed the criticism of a survey that his party and the Free Patriotic Movement plan to carry out as part of efforts to resolve the presidential deadlock.

“I don't understand why the issue has stirred such reactions although all parties carry out surveys on the elections and other issues,” Geagea said in remarks published on Monday.

Two people were wounded Sunday evening as a family dispute escalated into armed clashes in the Ain el-Hilweh Palestinian refugee camp in Sidon, reports said.

“Clashes sparked by a personal dispute are still ongoing in the Ain el-Hilweh camp and two people have been wounded,” MTV reported.

The Gambian government has withdrawn its expulsion of a powerful business magnate accused by the United States of funding Hizbullah party.

Lebanese-Gambian multi-millionaire Hussein Tajudeen, a former close friend of President Yahya Jammeh, had been ordered to leave the country earlier this month for "unacceptable business practices that are detrimental to the Gambian economy," according to the presidency.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi urged Lebanon's politicians to head to the parliament and elect a president in accordance with the constitutional principles.

“We pray that all lawmakers head to the legislative assembly and elect a head of state in accordance with the constitutional principles,” said al-Rahi during a mass held in Harisa.

The March 14 alliance elected on Sunday former MP Samir Franjieh as president of its national council during a meeting at BIEL.

284 members participated in the voting process where Franjieh garnered 237 votes and Dr. Fawzi Ferri earned 32 votes.

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel assured on Sunday that the army is in full control of the situation on the borders and inside Lebanon, in the wake of reports that terrorist acts could spread to the Lebanese arena.

“The army is in control of the situation whether at the borders or inside Lebanon's territories. The army is carrying out its duties and there is no fear of the Islamic State or of any other,” said Moqbel to al-Mustaqbal daily.