March 14 alliance leaders have been holding “routine meetings” away from the media spotlight to discuss the presidential deadlock, the coalition's officials said.

They told al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday that the leaders are assessing each stage ahead of the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's term on May 25.

A parliamentary session set by Speaker Nabih Berri on May 27 to continue discussions on the public sector wage scale is under the threat of lack of quorum, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

The newspaper said that Christian MPs from the March 8 and 14 alliances have threatened to boycott legislative sessions if a new head of state was not elected after the expiry of President Michel Suleiman's term on May 25.

Efforts exerted by top Maronite leaders to hold a summit on May 17 in Bkirki were unsuccessful as sharp differences over the presidential elections widened the gap between the political arch-foes.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Thursday, Christian leaders informed two envoys tasked by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi that there's no enthusiasm voiced by any official to attend the meeting.

The parliament on Wednesday adjourned debate over the new wage scale to May 27 after having approved a number of clauses during a morning session, amid a deadlock over several controversial articles.

The points of contention are especially revolving around the Value Added Tax, seaside properties and the so-called six degrees of public school contract teachers.

A man who hails from the Bekaa border town of Arsal was abducted Wednesday while on his way to the city of Baalbek, state-run National News Agency reported.

“Unknown individuals kidnapped Arsal resident Mohammed Shehadeh al-Hujeiri from his pickup truck as he was moving from the town to the popular market in the city of Baalbek,” NNA said.

The death of a Fatah al-Islam member in Ain el-Hilweh near the southern city of Sidon on Wednesday evening sparked a heavy exchange of fire in the camp, which lead to the injury of one person.

"An elderly man was wounded in a heavy fire exchange in Ain el-Hilweh's vegetable market,” al-Jadeed television reported.

The Maronite patriarch's historic first visit to Jerusalem to welcome Pope Francis is aimed at strengthening the "Christian presence" in the Middle East, a church official said Wednesday.

Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi's visit was announced earlier this month, prompting condemnation from media close to Hizbullah, which said travelling to the group's arch-enemy Israel would be a "sin."

Al-Mustaqbal Movement leader MP Saad Hariri on Wednesday expressed willingness to offer financial aid aimed at conducting repair works in Tripoli's Syria Street, the scene of fierce clashes over the past years that left scores of casualties.

According to the Hariri-owned Future TV, the former premier sent a letter to Prime Minister Tammam Salam, offering a “grant to renovate Syria Street in Tripoli.”

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil has discussed with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud al-Faisal the presidential deadlock as al-Mustaqbal movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri intensified his meetings to avoid a vacuum, An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday.

The newspaper said that Bassil held long discussions with al-Faisal on Tuesday, which required him to stay another day in Riyadh.

The army announced on Wednesday the arrest of three suspects in Beirut's southern suburbs of Dahieh over shooting offenses.

It said that it arrested Mustafa Zou al-Fiqar Ismail, Hussein Hassan Tohmaz, and Mohammed Hassan Tohmaz for firing from their weapons on various dates.