Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea on Friday reiterated his call for electing a “salvation president” who can rescue Lebanon, in comments related to the new boat tragedy in Tripoli.

“Today there is a new death ferry from Tripoli, dozens of victims and continued tears and pain, and yesterday there had been storming operations against a host of banks that led to a general strike of banks and additional suffering for the Lebanese citizens,” Geagea said.

President Michel Aoun on Friday expressed his relief over “the tripartite statement that was issued yesterday by France, the U.S. and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the situation in Lebanon.”

He also stressed “the need to elect a new president within the constitutional timeframe in addition to forming a new government that would win parliament’s confidence prior to the expiry of the presidential term on October 31.”

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati has expressed hope to finalize the cabinet formation file in the meetings that he will hold with President Michel Aoun next week, adding that the issue “does not need a lot of discussions.”

Speaking to MTV from New York, where he took part in the works of the U.N. General Assembly and met with several leaders, Mikati said the issues of the presidential vote, the aspired agreement with the International Monetary Fund and sea border demarcation with Israel were the focus of his talks there.

Marada Movement chief Suleiman Franjieh has confirmed that his nomination is on the table in the presidential race, as he voiced optimism over his chances.

“We are monitoring things… and I’m more optimistic than last time,” Franjieh said in an interview on MTV.

A state of anger was on Thursday engulfing the impoverished neighborhood of Bab al-Tabbaneh in Tripoli, after a boat carrying 55 illegal migrants went missing while en route to Italy, al-Jadeed TV reported.

“The residents are urging Hezbollah chief Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and General Security chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim to intervene to unveil their fate,” al-Jadeed added.

Prime Minister-designate Najib Mikati on Thursday stressed to the U.N. General Assembly “the commitment of Lebanon to the implementation of all the stipulations of Resolution 1701 and all international legitimacy resolutions.”

Turning to the issue of sea border demarcation with Israel, Mikati hailed the U.S. mediation in the file and emphasized Lebanon’s “ultimate adherence to its sovereignty, rights and resources in its territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone.”

Representatives from the United States, France, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have met to discuss Lebanon on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly.

“Our three countries expressed their continuing support for Lebanon’s sovereignty, security, and stability. As Lebanon’s Parliament prepares to elect a new President, we stress the importance of timely elections in compliance with the constitution. It is critical to elect a President who can unite the Lebanese people and work with regional and international actors to overcome the current crisis,” ministers from the three countries said in a joint statement.

Former minister Saleh al-Gharib, who is close to Lebanese Democratic Party leader ex-MP Talal Arslan, said Wednesday that no one has discussed with him the issue of being appointed as a minister in the new government.

“I don’t intend to assume any ministerial portfolio at the moment,” Gharib told al-Jadeed TV, dismissing media reports in this regard.

The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) held on Wednesday a ceremony to commemorate the International Day of Peace at its headquarters in Naqoura, South Lebanon.

The Association of Banks in Lebanon is inclined to extend the closure of banks until Monday, al-Jadeed TV reported on Wednesday.

Quoting unnamed sources, al-Jadeed said the decision to extend the strike “came after days from a meeting that was held with caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi, who advised the Association to extend the strike until a security plan for protecting banks is finalized.”