The army intelligence apprehended on Tuesday a suspect linked to Salafist cleric Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir and four others as a judge ordered the release of a detainee linked to the controversial radical preacher.

The state-run National News Agency reported that deputy Military Prosecutor Judge Dani al-Zani ordered the release of Salah Ghassan al-Aqqad, who is linked to al-Asir, from Jezzine prison.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam is likely to hear during his visit to Brussels next week warnings from several European countries on the drop in assistance to Lebanon over the government’s decision not to accept more Syrian refugees.

An Nahar daily said Tuesday that Salam's talks with European Union officials during his visit to Brussels on Dec. 1 will focus on the refugee crisis.

Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil ruled out any foreign interference in the presidential elections amid the regional developments, stressing that Lebanese Forces Samir Geagea's agreement to run in presidential race that includes him and Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun isn't enough to resolve the country's lingering crisis.

“We don't need foreign agreements to elect a president. We are seeking to elect a president according to local balances,” Bassil said in an interview with the pan-Arab daily al-Hayat on Tuesday.

The dialogue between Hizbullah and al-Mustaqbal movement should focus on the presidential crisis, a lawmaker from al-Mustaqbal parliamentary bloc said, a claim that contradicts a statement made by Speaker Nabih Berri about an agreement between the two sides on not putting preconditions for the talks.

The MP, who was not identified, told al-Liwaa newspaper published on Tuesday that the talks between the rival parties should start from the vacuum at Baabda Palace and the sectarian tension gripping the country.

Economy Minister Alain Hakim revealed on Tuesday that he will close several labneh factories for violating food safety regulations similarly to Health Minister Wael Abou Faour who recently kicked off a campaign against violating restaurants and institutions.

“These factories committed serious, first degree violations that directly affect the health of citizens as shown by tests and analyses,” Hakim said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

The Kataeb Party hoped on Monday the parliamentary by-elections would be held in Jezzine, while revealing that efforts are underway to devise a new electoral law.

It said after its weekly politburo meeting that a panel of specialists from the party is studying new proposals on the electoral law.

Former president Michel Suleiman on Monday called on the Maronite political parties to put aside “personal interests” and put an end to the drawn-out presidential vacuum.

“I reiterate my call for all Maronite parties to put aside personal interests and elect a new president immediately,” Suleiman said during a ceremony at the Vatican, where he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Order of Pius IX.

Russian deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov is scheduled to pay a visit to Lebanon in December, announced the National News Agency on Monday.

It said that the Russian official will travel to Lebanon on December 5 where he will hold talks with various officials.

A female Syrian refugee was killed and several were injured in clashes that erupted on Monday between two groups linked to Fatah movement at Burj al-Barajneh refugee camp in Beirut's southern suburbs.

The state-run National News Agency reported that the clashes broke out after the supporters of Mohammed Ghdeiyeh set on fire a motorcycle that belongs to Hekmat Akar, the leader of the second group.

The Change and Reform bloc held on Monday onto its proposal to allow the people to choose their "true" representatives, calling on the implementation of the constitution to preserve coexistence.

“The bloc made more than one initiative” to end the presidential deadlock and “return to the Lebanese in general and the Christians in particular their right to choose a president and have a good representation,” said MP Ibrahim Kanaan.