Interior Minister Nouhad al-Mashnouq has urged President Michel Aoun on Thursday to hold intensive meetings with political and security officials in order to control the deteriorating security situation in the eastern Bekaa town of Baalbek.

“I have asked President Michel Aoun to hold successive intensive meetings with political and security officials in order to put an end to the rampant chaos in Baalbek,” Mashnouq told reporters after the meeting.

In light of insistence to allocate a share in the new government for President Michel Aoun separate from the one allocated to the Strong Lebanon bloc, demands were raised that Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri should also have a share for the Premiership separate from that of al-Mustaqbal bloc, the Saudi Asharq al-Awsat daily reported on Thursday.

President Michel Aoun said on Wednesday that the United States must help Lebanon return the Syrian refugees back to safe areas in their homeland.

“The US should help Lebanon facilitate the return of Syrian refugees to safe areas in Syria and not wait for a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian crisis,” said Aoun.

A newly elected lawmaker emphasized on Wednesday that the issue of the president’s share in the government is not subject to any constitutional provisions.

“Nothing in the constitution speaks of a share of the President in the government,” said MP-elect Albert Mansour in an interview to VDL (93.3).

Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblat emphasized that three ministerial seats allocated to the Druze community will strictly be of the PSP’s share, noting the parliamentary elections results that saw his Democratic Gathering bloc record significant outcome, the daily An Nahar daily reported on Wednesday.

“The entire share allocated to the Druze community in the Cabinet shall be allocated to the PSP. We are asking for a legitimate demand as a result of the (parliamentary) elections no more and no less,” Jumblat said in remarks to the daily.

The Lebanese Forces emphasized eagerness to maintain good relations with President Michel Aoun, voicing fears that outgoing Foreign Minister Jebran Bassil “seeks to break” their ties with the “presidential term,” al-Joumhouria daily reported on Wednesday.

A human rights watchdog has said the Syrian government is passing laws to allow itself to seize private property, displace residents, and discourage refugees from returning to the war-battered country.

Human Rights Watch said a 2018 property law, known as Law 10 and slammed by several Lebanese officials, empowers authorities to confiscate property without compensating the owners or giving them an opportunity to appeal.

First Military Investigative Judge Riad Abu Ghaida approved on Tuesday the release of detained Lt. Col. Suzanne al-Hajj on bail after being accused in March of fabricating a spying for Israel case against comedian Ziad Itani.

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday slammed as “incorrect” remarks made by French President Emmanuel Macron that Lebanon’s Prime Minister Saad Hariri had been detained in Riyadh back in November.

Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri is expected to travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after the trip was “postponed for a few days for unknown reasons,” the daily al-Akhbar reported.