Saudi Arabia suggested two proposals to help Lebanon avoid any vacuum in the Presidency post amid President Michel Suleiman's firm rejection to renew his term, which ends in May 2014.

According to al-Akhbar newspaper published on Monday, Saudi officials are convinced that the Lebanese rival parties will fail to agree on holding the presidential elections due to sharp differences.

President Michel Suleiman is expected to issue a warning this week that Lebanon will no longer be able to confront the burden of refugees as the weekend witnessed an exodus of thousands of Syrians.

They have been fleeing heavy fighting in the mountainous region of Qalamoun, an area that stretches north of the Syrian capital along the Lebanese frontier.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour criticized what he termed the involvement of certain states in Lebanon's internal affairs, saying Lebanon has been suffering from crises since its independence in 1943.

“Any meddling in the internal affairs of a state goes out of the proper context,” Mansour told An Nahar Kuwaiti daily in an interview published on Sunday.

President Michel Suleiman is among the candidates to succeed Abdou Diouf, secretary-general of the Francophonie organization, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Sunday.

The newspaper quoted sources in the Francophonie as saying that Suleiman could replace Diouf when his term ends in 2014.

President Michel Suleiman stressed on Saturday the need for all powers to return to their commitment to the Baabda Declaration, reiterating that it will safeguard Lebanon from regional unrest.

He added: “The essence of the Declaration should be incorporated in Lebanon's constitution.”

President Michel Suleiman and caretaker Prime Minister Najib Miqati held a work meeting on Friday on ongoing efforts to support Lebanon on the economic and security levels and in harboring Syrian refugees, reported the daily An Nahar on Saturday.

Sources from the meeting revealed that the World Bank estimates that Lebanon has lost some $7 billion from the flow of refugees into the country.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi is scheduled to travel to the Vatican on Sunday where he is set to discuss various Lebanese affairs, reported al-Joumhouria newspaper on Saturday.

It said that next year's presidential elections will be at the center of discussions in light of the postponement of the parliamentary elections and the extension of parliament's term.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi hailed on Friday President Michel Suleiman's rejection to extend his mandate and warned that changes introduced to the Lebanese entity are leading to the violation of the nation's principles.

“We back your efforts to hold the presidential elections on time so that there would be rotation of power that characterizes Lebanon's democracy,” al-Rahi told Suleiman during a speech he made in Bkirki at a ceremony to launch a book on former Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Beirut last year.

Caretaker Foreign Minister Adnan Mansour traveled to Kuwait on Friday, saying he would encourage Kuwaiti officials to advise their citizens to visit Lebanon despite a travel ban.

In remarks to reporters at Rafik Hariri International Airport before heading to Kuwait, Mansour said: “We have friendly ties with Kuwait and we are keen on this relationship.”

A meeting will be held on Friday between President Michel Suleiman and Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki on the sidelines of issuing the memorial book on the official visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Lebanon.

According to al-Joumhouria newspaper published on Thursday the behind-closed doors meeting will address Suleiman's recent visit to Saudi Arabia and the new cabinet formation standstill.