The representatives of Christian parties held a “positive meeting” under the auspices of Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, al-Joumhouria newspaper reported on Friday.

The attendees discussed the national interests and issues that concern the Christians in Lebanon and the east, sources told the newspaper.

The French authorities are mulling to organize a meeting for Lebanese officials to resolve Lebanon's political crisis and “salvage its constitutional institutions,” An Nahar newspaper reported on Friday.

Paris could invite the Lebanese rival parties to a meeting similar to the one that former Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner organized in Saint-Cloud in 2007, An Nahar said.

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called on Lebanese leaders to fortify the “national institutions” and safeguard Lebanon from the repercussions of the Syrian turmoil, expressing concern over Hizbullah's involvement in battles in the neighboring country.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Friday, the U.N. chief praised the endeavors carried out by President Michel Suleiman to maintain the dissociation policy, calling on all parties to abide by the Baabda declaration.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has said that Lebanon has been suffering from a crisis in its political system over the rejection of a certain party of the Taef Accord.

In an interview with al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Friday, Geagea said: “We are suffering from a system crisis and all other issues are aimed at covering it up.”

Beirut ranked 20 in the list of the world's top tourist destinations, the Ministry of Tourism announced on Thursday.

"Beirut came before Paris, Melbourne, Venice and Barcelona on the list of tourism magazine Conde Nast Traveler,” the ministry said in a released statement, noting that the magazine's annual list is based on “its readers' choices.”

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi held talks on Wednesday night with Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun on local issues and developments in the region and their affects on Lebanon, reported the National News Agency on Thursday.

Aoun said after the meeting at Bkirki: “We need to exert all our efforts in order to create an air of understanding that will save Lebanon from negative positions.”

General Security chief Abbas Ibrahim interrupted on Thursday his visit to Belgium and headed to Turkey to meet negotiators over the case of the Lebanese pilgrims kidnapped in Syria's Aazaz.

"Ibrahim ended his trip to Belgium and traveled to Turkey to hold talks on the pilgrims' case,” the state-run National News Agency reported.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat stressed on Thursday that his visit to the French capital, Paris, is to carry out the necessary medical checkups.

He pointed out in comments to LBCI that he arrived in Paris on Sunday aboard Jumblat's National Struggle Front MP Nehme Tohmeh's private plane.

George Kassab, the brother of a Lebanese cameraman who disappeared in Syria, said on Thursday that the Lebanese authorities isn't seeking to reveal the fate of Samir.

“Should we start burning tires?” George wondered in comments to Free Lebanon radio.

A new Italian warship deployed on Wednesday off the Lebanese coast, joining the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon's naval forces.

The warship, Andrea Doria, was carrying 237 Italian naval peacekeeping troops, the state-run National News Agency reported.