The Lebanese Forces has informed French envoy Jean-Yves Le Drian that it will not attend any dialogue conference prior to the election of a new president, LF lawmaker Ghada Ayoub said.

“The Strong Republic bloc’s specifications for the president and his missions are clear and in line with the Doha meeting’s closing statement,” Ayoub said in an interview on Radio Free Lebanon.

Cabinet failed to convene Monday at the Grand serail to discuss the Syrian refugee crisis amid a new wave of illegal crossings, due to a lack of quorum.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati called instead for a consultative ministerial meeting at his office.

The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, has opened shelters in schools and other facilities to accommodate over 750 displaced people as fighting and heavy destruction of homes and facilities continued across southern Lebanon's Ain el-Hilweh refugee camp.

"UNRWA, with partners, is responding to the urgent humanitarian needs," said Dorothée Klaus, the director of UNRWA affairs in Lebanon.

Three fighters and a civilian have been killed in clashes over the past hours in the Ain el-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, official media reported, as caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati rebuked Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over the spiralling violence.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea joined Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun in Ras Baalbek on September 8 to celebrate the completion of explosives clearance in the area of Arsal and Ras Baalbek. Shea reviewed progress made since the 2017 defeat of jihadist groups in the area.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi started Friday a tour to the Chouf and Aley regions on the anniversary of the 2001 Mountain Reconciliation.

After meeting Druze spiritual leader Sheikh Sami Abi al-Mona in the town of Chanay, al-Rahi highlighted the diversity of Lebanon.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea has dubbed a seven-day dialogue proposed by Speaker Nabih Berri an attempt to obstruct the presidential election.

"Berri is a master of political antics," Geagea said, adding that dialogue is a futile farce.

Progressive Socialist Party former leader Walid Jumblat on Friday lauded Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi’s “local, Arab and international efforts for resolving the presidential crisis.”

“We also highly appreciate your support for dialogue, despite the various obstacles,” Jumblat added addressing al-Rahi, at a gathering in Mukhtara that was part of the patriarch’s tour of the Chouf and Aley regions.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka on Friday met with caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. The Special Coordinator underlined that the adoption of Security Council Resolution 2695 on the renewal of UNIFIL’s mandate should be “an opportunity for all sides to recommit to stability in southern Lebanon and along the Blue Line,” her office said.

She mentioned in particular “the importance of working towards the full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1701 (2006).”

Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has lashed out at both Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and the Lebanese Forces-led opposition over the issue of the proposed dialogue.

“As if all parties have a tacit agreement on maintaining presidential vacuum so that each of them can implement his project,” Bassil said at an FPM ceremony in Batroun.