Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Monday defended the Shiite Duo’s nomination of Suleiman Franjieh for the president post.

In a meeting with a delegation from the Press Syndicate and the Press Editors Syndicate, Berri reminded that Franjieh had also been a candidate “when the term of president Emile Lahoud was extended.”

Hezbollah central council member Sheikh Nabil Qaouq on Monday stressed that his party and its allies are “not awaiting any foreign settlement -- neither bilateral nor among five parties -- that would impose on the Lebanese characteristics and names for the presidency.”

“Hezbollah, the Amal Movement, the allies and the friends have opened a horizon for resolving the presidential crisis through domestic consensus, away from foreign vetoes and specifications. As for the election of a challenge and confrontation president, this now belongs to the past, and we’re talking about the present and the future,” the Hezbollah official added.

Saudi Ambassador Walid Bukhari met Monday with Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri in Ain el-Tine.

As he left the meeting, Bukhari told reporters that there is "certainly" something positive for Lebanon.

The Observatoire Européen pour l'Integrité du Liban said Monday that French judge Aude Buresi will arrive in Lebanon in the upcoming hours to question Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh.

The interrogation will take place in the presence of First Investigative Judge of Beirut Charbel Abou Samra, the observatory said.

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea met Monday with Maronite Archbishop of Antelias Antoine Bou Najem over the presidential crisis.

Assigned by Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, Bou Najem had started last month to meet Christian leaders in an attempt to secure Christian consensus over the presidential file.

Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday urged those who consider cabinet meetings as illegitimate to go ahead and elect a president.

Mikati's statement came after a meeting with Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi, during which they discussed the Taif Agreement, the presidential file and Mikati's visit to the Vatican.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday rejected that a president be “imposed” on the Lebanese as well as “vetoes” on presidential candidates.

A senior military advisor to Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei said Sunday that the reconciliation agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia will put an end to the United States’ “hegemony” in the West Asia region.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said Friday that “Lebanon needs Lebanese rapprochement, not Iranian-Saudi rapprochement,” a few hours after Tehran and Riyadh announced a reconciliation agreement.

Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah on Friday called for dialogue over Lebanon’s presidential crisis and said an Iranian-Saudi reconciliation announced earlier in the day “can only help” in the file but that no candidates can be “imposed.”

“We welcome any foreign assistance but we do not accept dictations,” Nasrallah said in a televised address.