Maronite bishops concluded on Thursday their four-day synod by urging political powers to overcome their disputes and work towards filling the vacuum in the presidency.

They said in their closing statement: “We should 'Lebanonize' the polls and elect a new head of state.”

The release of the Lebanese servicemen taken hostage by jihadists last year is awaiting Qatar's payment of a ransom, which is part of the prisoner exchange deal, al-Akhbar daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper quoted ministerial sources as saying that the release of the hostages hinged on the payment of “huge amounts of money to the terrorists as part of the deal.”

Saudi Arabia has asked French authorities to freeze the delivery of weapons to the Lebanese army under a Saudi grant, As Safir daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper quoted informed French sources as saying that Paris received an official message from Riyadh in May asking it to freeze the delivery of the rest of the arms.

Political and religious parties are competing on the name of the brigadier-general who will lead the army intelligence when the incumbent, Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel, retires next September, local dailies reported on Thursday.

The newspapers quoted military sources as saying that the names of Brig. Gen. Wadih al-Ghafari and Brig. Gen. Fadi Daoud have been proposed by a political party.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is scheduled to travel to the Iraqi Kurdish region of Erbil on Friday to follow up the situation of Christians who have been displaced as a result of the Islamic State group's onslaught.

Al-Joumhouria daily said that al-Rahi will be accompanied during the one-day visit by the Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Angelo Scola, who arrived in Beirut on Wednesday, and several members of the Lebanese Council of Maronite Bishops.

The holy fasting month of Ramadan will begin on Thursday, Lebanon's Higher Islamic Shiite Council and the office of the representative of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Lebanon announced on Wednesday.

“We have verified according to the rules of sharia that tomorrow, Thursday is the first day of the month of Ramadan,” the council's deputy head Sheikh Abdul Amir Qabalan said in a statement after presiding over a meeting.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat held talks Wednesday in Amman with Jordanian King Abdullah II, amid rising fears in Lebanon and the region for Syria's Druze community.

The monarch met the Druze leader at the al-Husseiniya Palace in Amman, Jordan's state news agency Petra reported.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Latif Daryan lamented on Wednesday the “paralysis” affecting Lebanon's presidency, government, and parliament, while calling against questioning the army's role in defending the northeastern border town of Arsal against foreign threats.

He said during his message to the Lebanese on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan: “We should not doubt the intentions of the military in Arsal.”

Progressive Socialist Party spokesman Rami al-Rayyes has said that talks carried out by PSP officials in Turkey have led to an agreement to protect the minority Druze sect in Syria.

Al-Rayyes told al-Mustaqbal daily published on Wednesday that the delegation, which was led by Health Minister Wael Abou Faour, agreed with top Turkish officials and the representatives of the Syrian opposition on “certain measures” to protect the Druze.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam met on Wednesday with top Egyptian officials during a one-day official visit to Cairo.

Salam held talks with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, his Egyptian counterpart Ibrahim Mahlab and the Grand Imam of al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed el-Tayeb.