Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh seems to be preparing for his withdrawal from the March 8 camp but without giving up on the relations with the alliance, the Kuwaiti al-Anba daily reported on Sunday.

“Marada chief Franjieh is preparing the step of withdrawal from the March 8 as a confirmation of his political independence from any internal alignments but without giving up on the relations with the said alliance and its political visions,” reported the daily.

The Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch thwarted a kidnapping attempt in return for ransom and were able to arrest the assailants in the northern border region of Wadi Khaled, the state-run National News Agency reported on Sunday.

"The ISF Intelligence Branch foiled the attempt to kidnap Syrian national M.Y. In return for ransom after luring him into Lebanon," the ISF said via its Twitter account.

The Saudi Arabian Embassy in Lebanon has taken precautionary security measures following the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr and the torching of the Saudi Embassy late on Saturday in Tehran, the Kuwaiti daily al-Jarida said on Sunday.

The embassy's staff were notified of the necessity to stay inside the embassy to avoid any reprisals they may be exposed to by supporters of Iran in Lebanon, it added.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called on Iranian Ambassador Mohammed Fathali to urge members of the Loyalty to the Resistance bloc to “head to the parliament for the election of a president,” al-Mustaqbal Movement reported on Sunday.

“The Patriarch has reiterated to the Iranian ambassador the necessity that the state institutions mainly the parliament restore their role,” Spokesperson of the Maronite Patriarchate Walid Ghayyad quoted al-Rahi following a meeting with Fathali at Bkirki.

Hizbullah condemned on Saturday Saudi Arabia's execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, holding the United States responsible for the development.

It said in a statement: “We hold the U.S. and its allies, who are presenting direct protection to the Saudi regime, responsible for covering up the kingdom's crimes against it people and those of the region.”

State security forces discovered a bag containing a belt of hand grenades in the northern city of Tripoli, reported the National News Agency on Saturday.

It said that a state security patrol made the discovery over the holiday period, not specifying if it was on Saturday or an earlier date.

Security measures have been tightened at various Palestinian refugee camps, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Anba on Saturday.

Palestinian factions took a series of steps and procedures at the camps in order to prevent any internal violations, especially in the southern camp of Ain el-Hilweh.

The initiative launched by Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri to end the presidential impasse has not failed, contrary to various media reports, said the Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah on Saturday.

Mustaqbal sources blamed however Hizbullah and Iran's allies in Lebanon of thwarting the proposal.

The tensions between Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri and Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea over the presidential elections has not impacted the proceedings of the committee tasked with devising a new parliamentary electoral law, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

Parliamentary sources added: “On the contrary, it appears that the two sides have agreed to keep the electoral law discussions away from the presidential elections.”

Some members of the March 8 coalition, starting with the Change and Reform bloc, have voiced their “annoyance” with the proposal launched by Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri to end the presidential vacuum in the country, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Saturday.

Parliamentary sources told the daily that the meeting between Hariri and Marada Movement chief MP Suleiman Franjieh “created confusion” in the Change and Reform bloc, which has negatively affected the discussions at the committee tasked with devising a new parliamentary electoral law.