The Free Patriotic Movement on Monday denied a media report that claimed that FPM chief Jebran Bassil is seeking the nomination of an adviser to President Michel Aoun for the PM-designate post.

In a statement, the FPM’s media department said it “categorically denies” a report in the Nidaa al-Watan daily that alleged that Bassil was “promoting the name of Mr. Fadi Assli,” the President’s adviser for Gulf affairs.

Resigned Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri noted Monday that the country’s current “collapse” could have been avoided, days after he quit the mission of forming a new government over deep disagreements with President Michel Aoun and his camp.

A delegation from the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes (TFFC) office is visiting Beirut from July 19-21, the U.S. Embassy said on Monday.

"They will meet with financial sector interlocutors and civil society groups to engage on issues related to corruption, illicit finance, and counterterrorism," the Embassy added in a statement.

Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi on Sunday called for appointing a new premier who has the ability to confront the country’s huge challenges.

There are no serious talks between ex-PM Najib Miqati and France regarding him being nominated to succeed Saad Hariri as PM-designate, an MP close to Miqati said on Sunday.

Ex-PM Saad Hariri has no veto on any candidate for the PM-designate post, MP Hadi Hbeish of Hariri’s al-Mustaqbal bloc said on Sunday.

Elena Valenciano, head of the European Union's Election Observation Mission deployed during the last Lebanese elections, has spent the week in Beirut, to follow up on the mission’s recommendations, the EU Delegation said.

Valenciano was accompanied by a team of electoral experts and EU officials and met with a wide range of Lebanese officials.

U.N. Special Coordinator for Lebanon Joanna Wronecka has expressed deep regret over “the inability of Lebanon’s leaders to reach agreement on the formation of a new government that is urgently needed to address the country’s numerous challenges,” a statement said.

U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Dorothy Shea has met with World Food Program Deputy Country Director Nicolas Oberlin and others to learn more about the World Food Program’s ongoing efforts to address the deteriorating food security situation in Lebanon, the U.S. Embassy said on Friday.

The European Union on Friday called on Lebanese politicians to urgently form a new Cabinet, hours after Prime Minister-designate Saad Hariri announced his resignation.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said Lebanese leaders are responsible for solving "the current domestic, self-made crisis," adding that it is urgent to form a new cabinet quickly.