The Kataeb Party renewed on Tuesday its demand for the election of a new president, saying that a new head of state will restore normalcy to state institutions.

It said in a statement after its weekly politburo meeting: “Complete internal stability cannot be achieved without a president, who safeguards the national pact and constitution.”

Authorities have denied a French expert on jihadists entry to Lebanon and accused him of links to extremist groups, diplomatic and security sources said Tuesday.

Romain Caillet, a researcher with the French Institute for the Near East, is a specialist on jihadist movements including the Islamic State group and had been based in Lebanon for five years.

A baby died on Tuesday after she was refused admission to a hospital in the northern region of Akkar, reported al-Jadeed television.

Her father said that six-month-old Inaam Rabih Eid was refused entry to Akkar – Rahal Hospital because her family did not have enough money for her treatment.

Health Minister Wael Abou Faour announced on Tuesday that he will order the withdrawal of all products manufactured at LAVENDER SARL factory and all merchandises carrying the slogan ZEIN, LBCI reported.

Abou Faour said that the LAVENDER products do not meet the health and environmental standards, and ZEIN products, of controversial herb expert Zein al-Atat, do not maintain guaranteed quality.

Seventeen Assyrians fleeing the Islamic State extremist group were granted entry into Lebanon, reported the National News Agency on Tuesday.

It said that they entered the country through the Masnaa border-crossing on Monday night.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam called Tuesday on the cabinet to resume its meetings, stressing that consensus shouldn't be a reason for obstructing the work of the government.

“Priority is to activate the work of the state effectively and smoothly,” Salam said in press release.

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.

The armed groups entrenched along Lebanon's eastern border are reportedly preparing to advance towards army posts on the outskirts of the northeastern villages of Ras Baalbek and Arsal, Ad Diyar newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Sources told the newspaper that there are around 3,000 to 4,000 armed man on the outskirts of the two villages, and coordination between the Islamist groups, in particular between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and al-Qaida-affiliate al-Nusra Front resumed.

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.

A soldier and a wanted individual were killed on Tuesday in an exchange of fire during a raid in the northern town of Bhannine, the Lebanese army said.

It said in a communique that wanted fugitive Abdul Rahman Ahmed Tamer died after he exchanged fire with a unit from the army.