Speaker Nabih Berri postponed on Thursday for the 21st time the session to elect a new head of state over lack of quorum as civil society groups rallied near parliament to protest the ongoing vacuum.

The session was adjourned to April 22.

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour accused on Saturday the Syrian regime of committing assassinations in Lebanon, expressing fear that the presidential crisis could lead to a “constitutional vortex.”

“I believe that when (Syrian President Bashar) Assad feels that he is militarily comfortable he will have more time to tamper with the situation in Lebanon,” Abou Faour said in an interview with the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun met with Lebanese forces official Melhem Riachi to hand him his comments on the final draft of the "declaration of intent" as dialogue between the Christian rivals is advancing at steady pace.

“We will later on announce new practical steps,” Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan said in comments published in al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun urged on Thursday the minimum amount of unity among the Lebanese to face the upcoming challenges, expressing belief that he is the only one capable of talking to all the rivals and restoring stability in the country.

“If the region reached a balanced state, then all the countries will benefit from it,” Aoun said in a lengthy interview with the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat.

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel blamed Iran on the spread of crises in the region and criticized Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun over his “illogical” stance from the presidential deadlock.

“The (region's) crises began since Iran started to spread its influence in Iraq, Syria and in Lebanon through Hizbullah,” Gemayel told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in an interview published on Wednesday.

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc stressed Tuesday the need to maintain the work of state institutions amid the presidential void, warning that the country might lose foreign loans and donations that have been put on hold due to the political crisis.

“The bloc stressed the need to maintain the work of state institutions and to exert efforts to prevent their paralysis, especially regarding the necessary and essential matters which affect all Lebanese,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the bloc's weekly meeting in Rabieh.

National Struggle Front MP Akram Shehayeb stressed on Monday that the bloc will not boycott the parliament, highlighting the importance of widening the centrists bloc instead of creating new ones.

“We have never boycotted the parliament,” Shehayeb said in an interview with An Nahar newspaper.

A meeting is expected to be held on Tuesday between Lebanese Forces official Melhem Riachi and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun to continue the ongoing discussions over the “declaration of intent” between the two parties.

According to al-Mustaqbal newspaper published on Monday, the meeting will tackle the document of principles and set the second stage of the dialogue between the two Christian parties.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil and Nader Hariri, the adviser of the Mustaqbal Movement leader, have met away from the media spotlight to discuss the fate of Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz, As Safir daily reported on Friday.

The newspaper said that Bassil, who is a Free Patriotic Movement official, and Hariri held talks on Thursday night.

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel signed on Thursday a decree to extend the term of Army Intelligence chief Brig. Gen. Edmond Fadel, which ends on March 20.

The decree extends Fadel's term by six months, media reports said.