A French judicial delegation will return in Lebanon on April 24, media reports said.

The report said that the delegation has asked Judge Charbel Abu Samra to question on its behalf Riad Salameh's brother, Raja, and his associate Marianne Hoayek on April 25.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi has opened the door for the municipal elections nominations starting Wednesday April 5 in the North, April 12 in Mount Lebanon, April 19 in Beirut and Bekaa and April 26 in the South.

The municipal elections will start on May 7 in the North, on May 14 in Mount Lebanon, on May 21 in Beirut and in Bekaa, and on May 28 in the South, Mawlawi said Monday, as he urged the government to secure the necessary funds and complete the administrative preparations.

The minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Mohammed bin Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, met Tuesday with Free Patriotic Movement leader Jebran Bassil and Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea, in a shuttle tour between the Lebanese leaders over the presidential file.

The Qatari minister also met with Army chief Gen. Joseph Aoun.

The U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Joanna Wronecka, on Monday welcomed an announcement by caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi calling for municipal elections during 7 May through 28 May 2023.

“Conducting the municipal elections is important for adhering to Lebanon’s constitutional timelines and democratic practices, at a time when the country is already facing a presidential vacancy and widespread institutional paralysis,” Wronecka said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea accused Monday the Free Patriotic Movement and the Hezbollah-led camp of obstructing the municipal polls.

"it's getting harder for them, the FPM's popular support is not at its best," Geagea said, adding that millions of dollars had been spent from the Special Drawing Rights and that the elections can also be funded.

A Qatari delegation, headed by the minister of state at the Qatari Foreign Ministry Mohammed Abdel Aziz al-Khulaifi, met Monday with caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri over the presidential file.

Al-Khulaifi arrived in Lebanon on Sunday night to discuss the presidential deadlock with the Lebanese leaders.

Caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi announced Monday that municipal elections will take place on time.

"We are ready to hold the municipal elections, and we will issue the necessary circulars," Mawlawi said, adding that he is forced by law to hold the elections and that he is convinced that these elections must be held on time.

Domestic, regional and international talks over the Lebanese file have intensified lately, Amal MP Qassem Hashem said.

The MP added that Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri is awaiting the outcome of these contacts to act accordingly.

Major General Aroldo Lázaro, Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), chaired a regular Tripartite meeting at a U.N. position in Ras al-Naqoura on Thursday.

On a visit to Lebanon on Thursday, Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič, announced €60 million in humanitarian aid for the most vulnerable people in the country, including Syrian refugees and Lebanese people in need. The Commissioner is visiting EU-funded humanitarian projects and meeting humanitarian partners on the ground as well as the Lebanese authorities.

The funding comes as Lebanon’s population is facing increasing poverty levels, food insecurity, and disease outbreaks. An estimated four million people need humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, the European Commission said in a statement.