Lebanon's leaders and politicians on Sunday mourned the death of former Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir, an influential figure in Lebanon's modern history.

Lebanon's former Maronite patriarch Nasrallah Boutros Sfeir, who wielded considerable political influence during the country's civil war and was an ardent advocate of a Syrian troop withdrawal, died Sunday, the church said. 

Progressive Socialist Party leader ex-MP Walid Jumblatt on Saturday said in its quest to formulate an austere state budget, the government has unveiled “treasures” of squandered public funds that have for decades been protected with secrecy, al-Joumhouria daily reported.

Lebanon renewed “requests” from the United States to pursue “mediation” with Israel to demarcate the maritime border in order to preserve its oil wealth right, mainly the border oil field Block 9 which Lebanon fears that Israel could steal, Asharq al-Awsat newspaper reported on Saturday.

The Cabinet approved an increase in tax on bank deposits on Friday during a session chaired by Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail.

State employees and military retirees renewed their protests on Friday and kicked off sit-ins in Riad al-Solh Square denouncing possible salary cuts as part of austere budget measures planned by the government.

Two individuals were injured when a personal armed dispute erupted at midnight in the town of Aramoun in Aley, LBCI TV station said on Friday.

Speaker Nabih Berri warned the government “not to refer the state budget draft to the parliament” if it fails to reduce the budget deficit to “9% or even less,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Friday.

The Cabinet held another meeting on Thursday to discuss the 2019 state budget and it was chaired by Prime Minister Saad Hariri at the Grand Serail.

After raiding the offices of the Foreign Ministry earlier this week, the State Security agency on Wednesday searched the headquarters of al-Akhbar newspaper, media reports said.