A Papal envoy will arrive in Beirut at the end of May to press forward the election of a new head of state amid the sharp rift among the political arch-foes over a consensual candidate.

Local newspapers reported on Tuesday that the Vatican’s dispatched envoy comes in light of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi's recent visit to Paris, where he met with French President Francois Hollande.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun is expected to deliver a speech on the occasion of the century-old tragedy of the devastating famine that left 150,000 and 200,000 people.

Al-Liwaa newspaper quoted sources as saying on Tuesday that Aoun's speech at Le Royal Hotel in Dbayeh will not include political stances.

Lebanon is rediscovering a century-old tragedy that most had forgotten -- a devastating famine, caused by blockades and a locust infestation, that killed a third of its population.

From 1915 to 1918, in the midst of World War I and before modern-day Lebanon existed, between 150,000 and 200,000 people died of malnutrition and disease, according to estimates by historians.

Al-Mustaqbal movement and Hizbullah on Monday underscored the need to maintain the continuity of state institutions as they evaluated the security situation in the country.

“The discussion was continued over the open issues and the security situation in the country was evaluated,” the two parties said in a joint statement issued after their eleventh dialogue session in Ain al-Tineh.

Some cable TV providers are supposed to appear Tuesday before investigators after the local TV networks filed a lawsuit accusing them of violating several laws.

“State Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud has referred to the central criminal investigations department a lawsuit filed against some companies and individuals by the local TV networks NBN, OTV, al-Manar, LBCI, TL, MTV, Future and al-Jadeed,” state-run National News Agency reported.

The Kataeb Party on Monday warned of possible assassinations plots against Lebanese leaders and foreign ambassadors, following media reports about alleged plots to assassinate top figures in the southern city of Sidon and Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Awadh Asiri.

“The party warns of the new assassination plots which are not only targeted against Lebanese leaders but also against prominent diplomatic figures,” Kataeb's political bureau said in a statement issued after its weekly meeting.

The military prosecutor charged on Monday scores of Roumieh prison inmates for carrying out riots and kidnapping soldiers and assaulting them.

Judge Saqr Saqr issued the charges against 41 prisoners over the riot that Islamists carried out in Roumieh's Block D last month.

Islamist rebels led by Al-Qaida's Syrian affiliate launched a preemptive strike Monday on pro-regime forces in a mountainous area near the Lebanese border, setting off fierce clashes, a monitor said.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Al-Nusra Front and other groups attacked positions belonging to the regime and Hizbullah, which backs the government, in the Qalamun region.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat began on Monday his testimony at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon that is examining the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri by recounting the nature of the ties between Lebanon and Syria, particularly with the ruling Assad family.

He told the trial chamber: “Bashar Assad showed hostility towards Rafik Hariri before he was elected president.”

The Lebanese army announced on Monday the arrest of several suspected terrorists and fugitives in raids it carried out in several areas across Lebanon.

A military communique said troops apprehended Safi Sobhi al-Daroubi who is wanted for tossing explosives and using arms in the area of Sabra in Beirut.