The dialogue between the Free Patriotic Movement and Lebanese Forces could witness positive developments after the Vatican announced its backing for the upcoming meeting between the two parties' leaders.

Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted sources as saying on Wednesday that the Vatican's ambassador to Lebanon, Bishop Gabriel Caccia, has warned against attempts to paralyze the negotiations between the FPM and LF.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim reportedly carried out positive discussions with officials in Turkey, which could lead to a breakthrough to the six-month hostage crisis, as sources said that the case could end in days.

According to An Nahar newspaper, the Islamist abductors agreed to release the kidnapped servicemen on two or three batches after the cabinet expressed leniency towards the release of Islamist inmates from Lebanese prisons, adding that the jihadists demanded a ransom to kickstart the prisoners swap deal.

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat blamed the vacuum at Baabda Palace on the differences among Christian leaders and ruled out a deal between Iran and Arab countries to bring about a compromise candidate.

“Internal Byzantine differences are making us incapable of electing a president,” Jumblat told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in an interview published on Wednesday.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc condemned on Tuesday the ongoing vacuum in the presidency, saying that political factions should prioritize overcoming obstacles that are thwarting the presidential elections.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “Those hindering the election are indirectly contributing to the growth of extremist and terrorist groups.”

The Free Patriotic Movement announced Tuesday that it is determined with the Lebanese Forces to reach "common denominators" in their ongoing dialogue, despite “difficulties and obstacles” hindering the unprecedented talks between the two rivals.

“Everyone knows that the details of our talks with the LF are being kept confidential and dialogue aims to reach common solutions to pave the way for a breakthrough in the current crisis,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the weekly meeting of the FPM's Change and Reform bloc in Rabieh.

The fish market in Beirut's Karantina area was reopened on Tuesday more than two weeks after it was shut down for renovation.

Governor of Beirut Ziad Shebib ordered on February 5 the closure of the market for not meeting health standards.

Salafist cleric Sheikh Bilal Deqmaq was released from custody after being arrested a week ago, reported MTV.

The cleric was detained on February 18 after being deported from Turkey.

Security forces detained on Tuesday three Syrians on charges linked to transporting arms and committing a murder, the state-run National News Agency.

The State Security bureau in the northern district of Akkar raided the residence of Syrian national Kh.S. in the town of Taleel and apprehended him.

Agriculture Minister Akram Shehayeb agreed during a meeting with milk producers to fix the price of 1L of milk at LL1,000 to enable dairy factories to buy it.

Shehayeb pointed out that he agreed with the producers and manufacturers to establish an operation room at the ministry to receive complaints and follow up all crises in the milk sector.

Grand Mufti Abdul Latif Daryan has warned that the failure to elect a new president will lead to more crises in the country, calling on MPs to choose a head of state to revitalize state institutions.

“The delay in the election of a president will create more crises,” Daryan old members of the Lebanese community in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Monday.