Speaker Nabih Berri stressed on Wednesday that consultations over the election of a new head of state will remain a local affair even after the constitutional deadline ends on May 25.

“I have asked ambassadors whom I have met not to interfere in the details of this matter,” Berri said in comments published in As Safir newspaper.

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat considered on Wednesday that the country has entered the vacuum stage at the helm of the country's top Christian post, noting that it will remain vacant until the political arch-foes reach consensus over a presidential candidate.

“There is no vacuum but a vacant seat,” Jumblat said in comments published in several local newspapers.

Prime Minister Tammam Salam said he discussed with Saudi officials during his two-day visit to the kingdom the grant to the Lebanese army, the burden of Syrian refugees and the presidential deadlock.

In remarks to al-Liwaa newspaper published on Wednesday, Salam said he thanked Saudi officials on their “generous” three-billion-dollar grant that was announced in late December.

Funding shortfalls and medical care gaps in Lebanon are forcing Syrian refugees to forgo treatment, run up huge debts or return to their war-ravaged homeland, Amnesty International said Wednesday.

The rights watchdog said the international community bore a large share of the blame because of its "shameful failure" to fully fund U.N. refugee programs in Lebanon.

Kataeb Party leader Amin Gemayel on Tuesday called for a “settlement” in the presidential vote, stating also his rejection of amending the constitution for the sake of any presidential nominee.

“I call for a settlement in the presidential vote and we only care about holding the presidential elections in the remaining time, considering the repercussions of not holding it on the situation in Lebanon,” Gemayel said in an interview on LBCI television.

Lebanese Forces leader and presidential candidate Samir Geagea on Tuesday announced that he stands “at the same distance” from all political parties, including Hizbullah and the Free Patriotic Movement, while accusing FPM's supporters of twisting his remarks about his meeting with former premier Saad Hariri.

“I don't think I was misunderstood, but some parties deliberately interpreted my remarks in that manner, as (FPM chief) General (Michel) Aoun's supporters are really wishing to obtain the support of the March 14 forces and ex-PM Hariri for their candidate and they're hoping Aoun will be elected president,” Geagea said in an interview in Paris with Radio Orient.

Justice Minister Ashraf Rifi appointed on Tuesday a new judicial investigator into the disappearance of revered spiritual leader Imam Moussa al-Sadr.

"In response to his request, Judge Samih al-Hajj has been exempted from looking into the case as an investigator at the Judicial Council,” Rifi announced in a released statement.

The Democratic Gathering stressed on Tuesday the importance of dialogue among the rival political parties to avert vacuum in the presidency.

It called for confronting the obstruction of presidential election sessions, while voicing its commitment to the nomination of its member MP Henri Helou to the presidency.

Former Minister Salim Jreissati announced on Tuesday that the Change and Reform bloc MPs would not attend Thursday's session at the parliament to elect a new president if the same circumstances surrounding talks on the anticipated vote persisted.

“If the same circumstances persist, we will not attend Thursday's parliamentary session,” Jreissati said after the Change and Reform bloc's weekly meeting.

Customs announced on Tuesday that it confiscated thousands of captagon pills and raided a warehouse containing expired food during two separate operations in April, reported the National News Agency.

On April 14, 400,000 captagon pills were found hidden in agricultural equipment that were prepared to be shipped to Saudi Arabia.