The members of the committee tasked with following up on the dialogue between Bkirki and Hizbullah met again in Beirut's southern suburbs – Dahiyeh to follow up their latest meeting in February.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Wednesday, talks focused on the importance of electing a new head of state and fears of the ongoing vacuum.

The Change and Reform parliamentary bloc reiterated Tuesday its rejection of any attempt to change the mechanism through which the cabinet is taking decisions in the absence of a president, noting that the objection of one minister -- or even a political component -- should not paralyze the work of the council of ministers.

“The cabinet cannot continue its work normally in the absence of a president,” Education Minister Elias Bou Saab said after the bloc's weekly meeting in Rabieh.

A delegation of bishops visited Free Patriotic Movement chief MP Michel Aoun in Rabieh on Tuesday to discuss with him the conditions of Christians in the Orient.

The delegation included bishops Issam Darwish, George Saliba, Boulos Safar and Rweiss al-Orashalimi.

Change and Reform bloc MP Ibrahim Kanaan said on Tuesday that the Free Patriotic Movement is awaiting for the Lebanese Forces to put its comments on the understanding that was reached between the representatives of the two parties in order for the agreements to take effect.

“It is normal for the process to take its time, in particular when highlighting the common characteristics in delicate and important matters,” Kanaan told al-Joumhouria newspaper.

The Free Patriotic Movement has announced that a much-anticipated meeting between FPM chief MP Michel Aoun and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea will be held when the two parties decide to start discussing the presidential crisis in their ongoing dialogue.

“Dialogue with the LF has reached a political agreement through the document of principles and any coming session between the two parties will be limited to the issue of presidency,” MP Alain Aoun of the FPM announced in an interview with al-Liwaa newspaper to be published Monday.

Lebanese Forces official Melhem Riachi stressed on Friday that it's normal for talks with the Free Patriotic Movement, which aim at preparing for a wider meeting between FPM chief MP Michel Aoun and LF leader Samir Geagea, to take a long time.

“A page from the past will be folded and we will not go back there,” Riachi said in comments published in al-Mustaqbal newspaper.

The Free Patriotic Movement announced Tuesday that it is determined with the Lebanese Forces to reach "common denominators" in their ongoing dialogue, despite “difficulties and obstacles” hindering the unprecedented talks between the two rivals.

“Everyone knows that the details of our talks with the LF are being kept confidential and dialogue aims to reach common solutions to pave the way for a breakthrough in the current crisis,” MP Ibrahim Kanaan announced after the weekly meeting of the FPM's Change and Reform bloc in Rabieh.

Hizbullah and the head of AMAL, Speaker Nabih Berri, back the extension of more than 20 officers in different posts despite a steadfast rejection by their March 8 ally, Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Tuesday.

The daily said that several parties support such a decision amid the presidential vacuum and the delicate security situation that the country is passing through.

Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geagea has said that he wants to reach a “deep and effective” understanding with his rival Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun.

“Dialogue would resolve a lot of problems, including the presidency … but things need time,” Geagea said on Monday about his upcoming talks with Aoun.

Telecommunications Minister Butros Harb criticized on Sunday endeavors that aim at appointing a new commander for the Lebanese army amid the presidential vacuum.

“We are prohibited from appointing a new army chief and impose it on any new head of state without him having a say in the decision,” Harb lamented in comments published in An Nahar newspaper.