Bishop Samir Mazloum denied claims of tensions between the Maronite patriarchate and President Michel Suleiman, reported the Kuwaiti daily al-Seyassah on Sunday.

He reiterated to the daily Bkirki's support for the formation of an “all-embracing” government.

The high demand on some of the military equipment pledged by Saudi Arabia to the Lebanese army will result in a short delay in delivering them to the military institution, reported the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Sunday.

A French source told the daily however that the Saudi grant will take effect “within a month.”

France is exerting efforts with the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council in order to highlight to Lebanese leaderships the dangers of failing to hold the presidential elections, reported the Kuwaiti al-Anbaa daily on Sunday.

It revealed that a French diplomatic delegation is expected to visit Lebanon soon in order to discuss with Christian leaders the upcoming elections.

Adel Makki rushed into the street in Beirut's Shatila Palestinian refugee camp Saturday to hand out sweets when he learned of the death of Ariel Sharon, the Israeli leader Palestinians blame for a massacre of hundreds there and in the nearby Sabra camp.

"I was relieved when I found out that Sharon was dead. I think the (eight) years he spent in a coma were punishment from God for the crimes he committed," Makki, age 19, told Agence France Presse.

Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri announced on Saturday that he will attend the opening session of the trial of the alleged killers of his father, late premier Rafik Hariri, on January 16 in The Hague.

“Hariri will head a March 14 delegation to attend the opening session of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon,” radio Voice of Lebanon (93.3) reported on Saturday afternoon.

The Higher Islamic Council called on Saturday for the formation of an all-embracing cabinet away from conditions and the counter-conditions imposed by the rival parties.

The council, headed by Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Rashid Qabbani, expressed relief over the exerted efforts by the political foes to reach an acceptable cabinet lineup.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea said Saturday that the March 14 alliance hasn't yet decided whether it would participate in a 24-member national unity government.

In remarks to al-Jadeed TV, Geagea said: “We haven't yet decided on our participation in an 8-8-8 cabinet.”

Al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc leader MP Fouad Saniora visited on Saturday President Michel Suleiman, who urged all parties to make concessions to form a government that wins parliament's vote of confidence.

Saniora's press office said after his talks with Suleiman at Baabda Palace that the meeting was “serious” and “honest.”

It started with a "selfie": a self-portrait picture of 16-year-old Mohammed al-Chaar, who was killed in a Beirut car bomb, has sparked a mini political protest by the Lebanese people.

In dozens of pictures posted on Facebook and Twitter, young Lebanese hold up signs with a personal message and the hashtag #notamartyr, protesting the cycle of political violence in their country.

A senior commander of Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards said Saturday that Hizbullah has dramatically improved its missile capabilities and can now pinpoint targets anywhere in Israel.

Gen. Amir Ali Hajizadeh said Israelis will see Hizbullah's new might should a war break out.