Report: Jumblat, his Son to Meet with Hollande in Paris

Progressive Socialist Party chief MP Walid Jumblat and his son Taymour are expected to meet with French President Francois Hollande next week, pan-Arab daily al-Hayat reported on Friday.

The newspaper said that the meeting is set to take place at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Monday afternoon.

Earlier this week, Jumblat met with al-Mustaqbal Movement leader ex-PM Saad Hariri in Saudi Arabia.

Ministerial and parliamentary sources told al-Hayat that the PSP chief reiterated during the meeting that he has withdrawn any initiative to resolve Lebanon's political crisis.

Jumblat and Hariri also agreed not to succumb to any pressure exerted by Free Patriotic Movement leader MP Michel Aoun, said the sources.

Aoun is engaged in a bitter dispute with Prime Minister Tammam Salam over his accusations that the premier is infringing on the powers of the Christian president in the absence of a head of state.

He wants his son-in-law Commando Regiment chief Brig. Gen. Chamel Roukoz to head the army.

But the government is procrastinating in making any appointment of high-ranking security and military officials.

Roukoz's tenure ends in October 2015 while the term of army commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji expires at the end of September.