Lebanese Forces chief Samir Geaega voiced calls on all political groups to practice calm and premeditation at this critical stage because “our major goal is to preserve our country,” he said on Monday.

“All political factions should practice calm and forethought at this difficult stage in the history of the region, because in the end our first and foremost duty is to preserve Lebanon regardless of anything else,” said Geagea via twitter.

The security measures around the Saudi embassy were already there but were only intensified following the recent developments that accompanied the execution of Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

“The security measures around the embassy were taken a long time ago, but the latest developments following the execution of Sheikh Nimr made us up these measures,” a security source told the daily on condition of anonymity.

Political efforts in Lebanon are said to focus on reactivating the government's work and restoring the parliamentary sessions to counter the repercussions of the regional conflict that arose lately between Saudi Arabia and Iran following the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, al-Joumhouria daily reported on Monday.

“At the current stage, the attention will focus on facing the repercussions of the regional crisis between Iran and Saudi Arabia against the backdrop of al-Nimr's execution,” a source following up closely on the developments in Lebanon told the daily.

The thorny presidential file and the stalled initiative settlement to nominate Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh as head of state, could become more complicated following the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, As Safir daily reported on Monday.

“The regional conflicts following the execution of Sheikh al-Nimr could reflect on the file of electing a president,” prominent sources of March 8 told the daily on condition of anonymity.

New landslides hit the outskirts of the town of Kfarnabrakh in the Chouf region and some residents were compelled to evacuate their homes, the state-run National News Agency said on Sunday.

A snowstorm accompanied by heavy rainfall hit the area leading to the collapse of major pathway that lies beneath the houses. The landslide blocked the Kfarnabrakh, Wadi al-Sitt and al-Fowara roads with soil and rocks, NNA added.

The March 14 General Secretariat reiterated the keenness to preserve Lebanon's stability and the necessity not to turn the nation to an arena to settle accounts of major events taking place around us in the region.

“Out of our keenness to preserve stability we stress the need not to turn Lebanon to a weak spot and a place to settle accounts of serious events,” the Secretariat said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Marada chief MP Suleiman Franjieh seems to be preparing for his withdrawal from the March 8 camp but without giving up on the relations with the alliance, the Kuwaiti al-Anba daily reported on Sunday.

“Marada chief Franjieh is preparing the step of withdrawal from the March 8 as a confirmation of his political independence from any internal alignments but without giving up on the relations with the said alliance and its political visions,” reported the daily.

The Internal Security Forces Intelligence Branch thwarted a kidnapping attempt in return for ransom and were able to arrest the assailants in the northern border region of Wadi Khaled, the state-run National News Agency reported on Sunday.

"The ISF Intelligence Branch foiled the attempt to kidnap Syrian national M.Y. In return for ransom after luring him into Lebanon," the ISF said via its Twitter account.

Hundreds of people were trapped in their vehicles on mountainous roads on Friday as storm Vladimir that began two days ago blanketed the high altitudes with snow on New Year's Day.

“More than 700 cars are trapped between Aitou and Ehden and residents are urging the army to intervene,” LBCI television reported.

A huge fire ripped through a luxury Dubai hotel on Thursday near the world's tallest tower, where people were gathering to watch New Year's Eve celebrations, police said.

The Dubai government media office tweeted that a "fire has been reported in the Address Downtown hotel. Authorities are currently on-site to address the incident swiftly and safely".