Caretaker Interior Minister Marwan Charbel is expected to visit Roumieh Prison next week to inspect the conditions of the inmates and the facility, As Safir newspaper reported on Friday.

According to the report, Charbel will meet with several Islamist inmates, who will brief him on their demands.

President Michel Suleiman prefers to renew his mandate rather than extend it, well-informed diplomatic sources told As Safir newspaper published on Friday.

The sources quoted Suleiman as telling his French counterpart Francois Hollande in September that he rejects the extension of his term, even for a day.

Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta is expected to arrive in Beirut on Friday to hold talks with senior officials and to prepare for an international conference to provide the Lebanese army with the help it needs to boost its performance.

Local newspaper reported on Friday that the Italian Premier will hold talks with President Michel Suleiman, Speaker Nabih Berri and his Lebanese counterpart Najib Miqati.

Speaker Nabih Berri has warned that holding cabinet sessions would renew clashes in the resigned government of Prime Minister Najib Miqati, hindering the process of coming up with a new line-up.

“The revival of government sessions would open the appetite over controversial issues that a resigned cabinet should not discuss because they would push aside the efforts to form the government,” he said.

Residents of some Akkar towns fled the area on Thursday to escape the fallout from clashes on the Syrian side of the border.

“Shelling targeted the outskirts of their towns, forcing them to flee their homes to safer places,” state-run National News Agency reported.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati stressed on Thursday that Lebanon has not delayed in meeting the humanitarian needs of the Syrian refugees, but expressed his disappointment in the international community's dealing with the issue.

He said: “Lebanon is disappointed with the international community for ignoring the humanitarian needs of the refugees.”

Financial General Prosecutor Ali Ibrahim requested on Thursday a hearing with caretaker Public Works Minister Ghazi Aridi in order to address corruption allegations, reported the National News Agency.

It said that the minister has a week to comply with the request.

Lebanese hunters on Thursday fired gunshots that targeted Israeli troops near the Metula settlement, which drew a response from the soldiers.

“Gunshots from Lebanon were fired at Israeli troops in the Galilee Panhandle area, causing no casualties or damage," Israel Radio reported.

Hizbullah deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem voiced on Thursday his surprise with President Michel Suleiman's suggestion to form a government to stage the presidential elections even if it does not enjoy confidence.

He deemed such a proposal as unconstitutional.

Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Beirut Elias Audeh lamented on Thursday the divisions among the Lebanese people, saying that politics has corrupted them and Lebanese society.

He said: “The Lebanese people have not learned that their divisions will only lead to the destruction of all sides.”