The cabinet could convene again Saturday if the dispute on the controversial proposal on the treatment of solid waste was resolved by then, An Nahar daily reported.

The newspaper said Friday that Prime Minister Tammam Salam has expressed severe frustration over the obstacles placed in front of the proposal despite an earlier agreement reached between Environment Minister Mohammed al-Mashnouq and Kataeb Party representatives.

The United States Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale underlined the importance of the dialogue between the rival parties in Lebanon, setting the election of a new head of state in Lebanon as a priority.

The dialogue between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces would facilitate the election of a new president, al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Friday quoted Hale as saying during a visit to Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi the day before.

The impact of Storm Zina continued to be felt across Lebanon on Thursday, as a cold snap brought unusually low temperatures to the coast and some mountainous towns remained cut off by snow.

All public, private and vocational schools as well as nurseries will remain closed on Friday, the third consecutive day, at the request of the ministers of education and health.

Syrian Ambassador to Lebanon Ali Abdul Karim Ali denied Thursday that Syrians are now required to obtain visas to be able to enter Lebanon, reiterating his call for “coordination” between the two countries regarding border measures.

“There can't be visas between Syria and Lebanon,” Ali stressed after talks with Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain al-Tineh.

Judge Alaa al-Khatib, the judicial investigator into the bombings that rocked Tripoli's al-Salam and al-Taqwa mosques, on Thursday summoned Arab Democratic Party chief Ali Eid to a hearing session as a “defendant.”

Should Eid fail to show up at the January 10 session, the judge would take the appropriate legal measure, state-run National News Agency reported.

The government failed anew on Thursday to reach a solution to the crisis of solid waste management, which prompted Prime Minister Tammam Salam to adjourn the cabinet session following an extensive yet unfruitful debate.

“The cabinet discussed the issue of solid waste and thoroughly discussed a report by the environment minister, but it was not able to reach a decision regarding this file and (Salam) decided to adjourn the session,” Information Minister Ramzi Jreij announced after a cabinet meeting at the Grand Serail.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Java Zarif lauded on Thursday the dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal Movement and the efforts exerted to reduce the sectarian tension in Lebanon.

Zarif expressed hope that the talks between the Sunni and Shiite parties would be “fruitful,” noting that his country supports dialogue and openness between the Lebanese, in particular Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal.

The families of abducted soldiers and servicemen will resume their sit-in at Beirut's Riad al-Solh square after the storm subsides, the relatives' spokesman told the state-run National News Agency on Thursday.

U.N. humanitarian chief Valerie Amos is expected to visit Beirut on Thursday to discuss how world powers can support Lebanon which is overwhelmed by the Syrian refugee crisis.

Discussions between Amos and Lebanese officials are expected to focus on the latest measures taken by the Lebanese authorities to control the flow of refugees to Lebanon.

Messages exchanged between the Free Patriotic Movement and the Lebanese Forces included issues linked to stability in Lebanon and the flaws in the implementation of the Taef Accord, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

LF leader Samir Geagea revealed during a press conference on Wednesday that both sides have exchanged the messages ahead of his expected talks with his rival, FPM chief MP Michel Aoun.