Customs authorities at Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport have seized seven kilograms of drugs over the past few days, as a probe showed the presence of a quantity of items that bypassed customs procedures, the Customs Administration said.

“The airport's Customs department foiled an attempt to smuggle four kilos of a narcotic substance in the form of white powder into the country, referring the quantity to the Central Anti-Narcotics Bureau in Beirut,” the Customs Administration announced in a statement.

Former President Michel Suleiman and seven cabinet ministers met on Wednesday at Kataeb leader Amin Gemayel's residence in Sin el-Fil to discuss the controversial decision-making mechanism of the cabinet, rejecting the ongoing vacuum at the presidency.

Gemayel said after the talks: “The vacancy at the Baabda Palace would not have persisted had it not been for the coup against the constitution.”

Prime Minister Tammam Salam noted on Wednesday that the failure to elect a president has caused numerous problems regarding the functioning of the government.

He said: “The obstacles standing in the way of government work and the debate over its mechanism are a result of failing to elect a president.”

France said on Wednesday that it will begin shipping $3 billion worth of weapons paid for by Saudi Arabia to the Lebanese army in April.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that the deal, first announced in 2013, will supply French armored vehicles, warships, attack helicopters, munitions and communications gear.

Kataeb Party chief Amin Gemayel expressed grave concern on Wednesday over the ongoing presidential vacuum, criticizing sides that are dealing “ridiculously” with the crisis.

“We can't simply consider the vacuum a normal matter that we can deal with easily,” Gemayel said in comments published in the pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat.

The dialogue between the Free Patriotic Movement and Lebanese Forces could witness positive developments after the Vatican announced its backing for the upcoming meeting between the two parties' leaders.

Al-Mustaqbal daily quoted sources as saying on Wednesday that the Vatican's ambassador to Lebanon, Bishop Gabriel Caccia, has warned against attempts to paralyze the negotiations between the FPM and LF.

General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim reportedly carried out positive discussions with officials in Turkey, which could lead to a breakthrough to the six-month hostage crisis, as sources said that the case could end in days.

According to An Nahar newspaper, the Islamist abductors agreed to release the kidnapped servicemen on two or three batches after the cabinet expressed leniency towards the release of Islamist inmates from Lebanese prisons, adding that the jihadists demanded a ransom to kickstart the prisoners swap deal.

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat blamed the vacuum at Baabda Palace on the differences among Christian leaders and ruled out a deal between Iran and Arab countries to bring about a compromise candidate.

“Internal Byzantine differences are making us incapable of electing a president,” Jumblat told pan-Arab daily Asharq al-Awsat in an interview published on Wednesday.

The Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc condemned on Tuesday the ongoing vacuum in the presidency, saying that political factions should prioritize overcoming obstacles that are thwarting the presidential elections.

It said in a statement after its weekly meeting: “Those hindering the election are indirectly contributing to the growth of extremist and terrorist groups.”

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.