The corpse of Abdullah Azzam Brigades chief Majed al-Majed was handed over on Friday afternoon to the Saudi Embassy in Beirut, ahead of its repatriation to the kingdom.

“At 3:20 p.m., and following the authorization of the relevant judicial authority, the army's Medical Services handed over Majed al-Majed's body to a delegation from the Saudi embassy in Lebanon at the entrance of the Central Military Hospital,” a Lebanese army statement said.

A Syrian child, who has been sexually assaulted by allegedly a man suffering from AIDS in the South, is undergoing medical checkups and psychiatric evaluation, the Social Affairs Ministry said on Friday.

“The Syrian child who has been the victim of a monstrous sexual assault in the area of Marjeyoun has been placed under the care of the UNHCR since Tuesday and is undergoing medical checkups and psychiatric follow-up,” the ministry said.

A pregnant woman was beaten by her husband, her brother-in-law and mother-in-law overnight on Thursday for allegedly losing the water bill.

Media reports said on Friday that Fatima al-Nashar might lose her baby after her husband Sultan Kas-ha, his brother Othman and their mother Naeima brutally hit her.

Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat expressed hope on Friday that the political foes would reach an agreement over the cabinet formation process.

“I am seeking to bridge the gap between the political foes,” Jumblat said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Western countries in addition to Russia and China are expected to exert more pressure on Lebanese parties to elect a new president on time and avoid a vacuum, Western diplomatic sources said.

The sources told pan-Arab daily al-Hayat published on Friday that the U.S., Britain, France, Russia and China are among the countries pushing for parliament's election of the president starting March 25.

The Free Patriotic Movement expressed on Friday optimism concerning the cabinet formation process, stressing that the party aims at facilitating the matter in an attempt to safeguard the country.

“We are completely positive regarding the cabinet lineup and our hand is reaching out to everyone in order to include everyone in the new government and confront the dangers facing Lebanon,” Caretaker Energy Minister Jebran Bassil said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Speaker Nabih Berri has backed the rotation of all portfolios in the new government but said discussions on the policy statement should be left until after the formation of the government.

In remarks to several local dailies published on Friday, Berri reiterated his support for the 8-8-8 formula and the rotation of portfolios in all ministries “without any exception.”

Phalange Party leader Amin Gemayel stressed on Friday that contacts are ongoing with the March 14 allies and President Michel Suleiman regarding the cabinet formation process.

“Our stance from any government lineup will be encompassing and in coordination with the March 14 alliance to reach the required goals,” Gemayel said in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.

A Syrian child was sexually assaulted in the southern town of Marjeyoun, and medical examination revealed that his attacker has AIDS.

"A four-year-old refugee was sexually assaulted by a Syrian worker that lives nearby the victim's family and who is an employee working for the boy's father,” An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

Acting State Prosecutor Judge Samir Hammoud announced on Thursday that the report of the forensic panel has confirmed that Majed al-Majed had died of illness.

"The panel's report confirmed the first conclusion reached by the forensic doctor,” Hammoud told the state-run National News Agency, noting that the general prosecution will officially receive the new report on Friday morning.