MP Michel Aoun's Free Patriotic Movement ministers have reportedly decided to suspend their participation over the dispute over security appointments, reported the Kuwaiti al-Anba daily on Sunday.

Sources told the daily that the FPM took this decision after reaching a dead end with the Mustaqbal bloc over security and military appointments.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi stated on Saturday after meeting families of the Arsal captives that part of the thorny file could be heading towards the final stages of a solution, in light of reports that the kidnappers are trying to benefit financially from a set of new conditions before closing the deal.

“The efforts exerted to solve this file are immense, and part of the file could be heading towards the final stages of a solution,” said Rifi.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam chaired on Saturday a meeting that was attended by high-ranking security officials to discuss the latest security developments in the country.

Media reports described the meeting as “positive.”

Dentist Huda Karkaba, who was kidnapped on Saturday morning by masked gunmen in the Wadi Hmeid area of the northeastern border town of Arsal, was released the same day, the National News Agency reported on Saturday.

Dr. Karkaba was with her husband, Abdul Karim Youssef Zaarour, when she was kidnapped, said NNA.

Hizbullah fighters backed by the Syrian Army reportedly took control of new militant positions on the outskirts of the Syrian al-Qalamoun town, which borders Lebanon.

Al-Manar reported that Hizbullah and the Syrian forces completely seized the outskirts of al-Juba town, which compelled Islamists militants to flee the area towards Ras al-Maarah, Fleita and al-Rahwa, along the Lebanese border.

The Free Patriotic Movement warned on Saturday that the party could take other measures beyond its resignation from the cabinet if the government agreed to extend the term of security officers, amid the inability to reach consensus on appointing new figures.

“The FPM could go beyond the resignation from the government if the latter made the mistake (of extending the term of security officials). Our allies have reiterated support to any move we take therein,” prominent sources in the FPM told al-Akhbar daily.

Russian Ambassador to Lebanon Alexander Zasypkin defended on Saturday Hizbullah's intervention in Syria, describing the group as a resistance that participates in political life and aids a legitimate regime in Syria.

The ambassador rejected in comments published in the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat comparison between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Hizbullah, stressing that the differences are “fundamental.”

Social Affairs Minister Rashid Derbas stressed on Saturday that the number of registered Syrian refugees didn't drop-off so far.

He revealed in comments published in An Nahar newspaper that his ministry will “carry out a new survey to count the displaced” to unveil the effectiveness of the new measures taken by the state to limit their numbers.

Lebanese security forces reportedly bolstered their measures in Beirut's southern suburbs after obtaining information on a possible terror attack in the area.

According to As Safir newspaper published on Saturday, Dahiyeh hasn't witnessed such measures in a year as security members are thoroughly inspecting vehicles and passers-by.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi wrapped up the first round of talks with Christian leaders to press them to ease tension and elect a new head of state.

According to An Nahar newspaper published on Saturday, al-Rahi dispatched former Minister Roger Deeb to visit the four Maronite leaders separately.