A Saudi grant to the Lebanese army to purchase French weapons is reportedly frozen over stances by some Lebanese officials regarding Riyadh's war against Shiite Huthi rebels in Yemen.

French diplomatic sources said in comments published in As Safir newspaper Tuesday that France's chief of Staff General Jean-Pierre Bosser expressed belief that Saudi Arabia is delaying the accomplishment of the second delivery of French arms.

Despite optimism over the near release of the Lebanese servicemen taken hostage by the al-Qaida affiliate al-Nusra Front, the group dismissed such reports, describing them “false promises.”

“Everything that isn't announced by the group via its Twitter account regarding progress in the case of hostages isn't sustainable and is false,” leadership sources close to Nusra group leader by Abu Malek al-Talli said in remarks published in al-Akhbar newspaper Tuesday.

The Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus is set to host an inter-Christian summit next week to discuss the situation of Christians in the Orient, An Nahar daily reported on Tuesday.

The newspaper said that Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi will attend the summit on June 8.

The cabinet failed Monday to reach an agreement over the thorny issues of Arsal's outskirts and the security appointments, postponing discussions to Thursday's session.

“The ministers explained their viewpoints and the stances were thoroughly debated,” Information Minister Ramzi Jreij told reporters after the session.

A Lebanese shepherd escaped on Monday from an abduction attempt by Israeli troops in southern in Lebanon, reported the National News Agency.

It said that Mohammed Zahra escaped the Israeli troops who had crossed about 50 meters into Lebanese territory in the area of al-Shahel west of Shebaa.

A major fire broke out Monday at a Syrian refugee encampment in the al-Jrahiyeh area near the Bekaa town of al-Marj, killing a baby and injuring several people.

The flames gutted dozens of tents and pieces of furniture as well as drinking and household water tanks.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat called on Monday for an end to the various crises that have been crippling Lebanon's political and daily life, demanding that a solution be reached on security appointments and the vacuum in the presidency.

He said in his weekly editorial in the PSP-affiliated al-Anbaa website: “Consensus must be reached on a complete package of appointments.”

Papal envoy to Lebanon former Foreign Minister Monsignor Dominique Mamberti stressed Monday that the Vatican is deeply concerned over the crises gripping Lebanon.

“We hope that dialogue resolves the current situation and maintains stability of institutions,” Mamberti told reporters after talks with Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil at the Bustros Palace.

The term of Interior Security Forces chief Major General Ibrahim Basbous could be renewed for three months to end the controversial appointments crisis that is threatening to submerge the state into void, media reports said Monday.

As Safir newspaper reported that the political arch-foes are seeking to agree on the extension of Basbous' term by three months to postpone the controversial crisis until September, when the term of Army Commander General Jean Qahwaji ends.

Speaker Nabih Berri has pledged to defend the government over fears that it would collapse due to differences between the rival March 8 and 14 alliances on a military solution on the outskirts of the northeastern border town of Arsal and the appointment of top security and military officials.

“I will defend the cabinet with all my strength,” Berri told his visitors in remarks published in local newspapers on Monday.