Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Audeh lamented on Thursday the divisions among the Lebanese people, saying that politics has corrupted them and Lebanese society.

He said: “The Lebanese people have not learned that their divisions will only lead to the destruction of all sides.”

Beirut Examining Magistrate Ghassan Owaidat on Thursday questioned for the first time the wife of Higher Relief Council chief Ibrahim Bashir in his office at the Justice Palace.

Last month, the judge issued arrest warrants against Bashir and his wife after they were charged with embezzlement of state funds, smuggling and money laundering.

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel, who is currently on a trip to the U.S. capital Washington, is expected to visit the Islamic Republic of Iran, al-Liwaa newspaper reported on Thursday.

According to the report, the invitation was delivered to Gemayel by Iran's ambassador to Lebanon Ghazanfar Roknabadi.

Caretaker Social Affairs Minister Wael Abou Faour expressed fear on Wednesday over the “disastrous” conditions of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon amid the winter storm hitting the country.

“We are incapable, the ministry is working through international associations to aid the refugees,” Abou Faour said in comments published in al-Akhbar newspaper.

Syrian refugee Faisal looks down at the muddy floor of his tent in a field in eastern Lebanon as it is battered by a snowstorm.

"I'd rather die a million times than live through this humiliation," the 48-year-old says bitterly.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Thursday that there is no dispute with President Michel Suleiman over the possibility of reviving the caretaker cabinet.

Sources close to the caretaker premier called on the foes not to depend on reports saying that there is a dispute between the two officials.

The representatives of rival Christians parties have met at the seat of the Maronite church in Bkirki to coordinate on several local issues, mainly the presidential polls.

The meeting that was held on Wednesday brought together Free Patriotic Movement Minister Salim Jreissati, Phalange party MP Sejaan Azzi, Lebanese Forces parliamentary bloc MP Elie Kayrouz, ex-Minister Youssef Saadeh from the Marada movement, and al-Rahi's representative Bishop Samir Mazloum and ex-Minister Roger Deeb.

A meeting was held between al-Mustaqbal movement leader Saad Hariri and head of the movement's parliamentary bloc MP Fouad Saniora in the French capital Paris, An Nahar newspaper reported on Thursday.

According to the report, Saniora briefed Hariri during the meeting that was held on Wednesday night on the latest consultations with the Lebanese foes in light of the announcement of the start of the trial in the case of Ayyash et al. on Januray 16, 2014.

The head of the parliamentary public works committee said that the Central Inspection Board has launched an investigation into the engineering aspect of alleged construction violations that emerged after a spat between two cabinet ministers.

MP Mohammed Qabbani told An Nahar daily in remarks published on Thursday that the head of the Board, George Awad, confirmed to him during a telephone conversations about the probe into the accusations and counter accusations made by caretaker Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi and caretaker Finance Minister Mohammed Safadi.

Customs agents at the Rafik Hariri International Airport thwarted on Wednesday an attempt to smuggle drugs to Saudi Arabia, reported the National News Agency.

It said that agents became suspicious of cardboard boxes being sent to Riyadh and upon inspection they discovered over 500,000 captagon pills concealed in them.